According to statistics, at least 30 million children and adolescents under the age of 17 in China are suffering from various mood disorders and behavioral problems, and the sum of the burden caused by depression and suicide has ranked first among various diseases. What is particularly worrying is that in recent years, children and adolescents suicide is a clear trend of younger age, to which parents, schools and society should pay great attention. Children do not yet have the same ability as adults to fully express complex emotional experiences in words, so abnormal and sudden changes in behavior are important diagnostic criteria for depression in children. So, what are the signs of depression in children? Sudden personality changes. When an outgoing and optimistic child suddenly becomes silent, inferior, introverted and withdrawn, or when a quiet and polite child suddenly becomes impatient, easily agitated, impolite, and often antagonistic with parents and teachers, the possibility of depression should be considered. Sudden change in learning. When a student with consistently good grades and diligent study suddenly has learning difficulties, decreased attention and memory, inattentiveness in class, difficulty completing homework, a sharp drop in grades, and self-loathing, be sure to take them to a psychologist for timely diagnosis and treatment. Insomnia. If a child suffers from insomnia, night terrors, nightmares, tossing and turning during sleep for months at a time, and is depressed during the day, he or she should be alerted to the possibility of depression. Children with depression often feel very lonely and believe that no one can understand them. They often show depressed mood, reduced interest, lower self-esteem, reduced speech, delayed movement, withdrawn behavior, increased irritability, easy temper tantrums, fearfulness, pessimism and anxiety, and even suicide attempts. Product of mental stress Although there are various causes of depression in children, the most important one is mental stress. Many patients have poor psychological quality in early childhood, have high self-esteem but are fragile and psychologically unstable, and are prone to mental stress when they encounter difficulties. If children are under such heavy pressure for a long time, then a small setback may destroy their spirit and make them suffer from depression. First of all, stress from learning. By and large, every learning disability leads to emotional problems, all of which can cause children to doubt their abilities, shake their confidence, and feel frustrated and sad. These emotional problems, in turn, can further affect the student’s learning, creating a vicious cycle. Some children with consistently good academic performance may also experience depression due to poor performance on a particular test. Secondly, parents or teachers discipline inappropriate ways. When a child’s performance slips or makes a mistake, he or she does not receive understanding and encouragement from parents and teachers, but suffers severe lectures, scolding, or even corporal punishment, which can easily destroy the child’s fragile self-confidence and hit their self-esteem hard, making them afraid to see their parents or teachers and fall into a state of excessive worry and fear, which can easily lead to depression such as isolation, silence, and low self-esteem. Again, psychological stressful events are also triggers. Such as the loss of a loved one, parental divorce, lack of family warmth, and abuse, abandonment, etc. Timely treatment is the key Depression in children is quite different from adults and can be easily ignored by parents and teachers, so it is important to pay attention to the early identification and prevention of depression in children. The causes of depression in children are not well understood, but we can still identify certain causes from the children’s life experiences. Psychotherapy, including behavioral therapy, play therapy, and suggestion therapy, can be used according to the factors and symptom characteristics related to the onset of the child’s depression. At the same time, we should provide patient guidance to the affected children, help them overcome their emotional barriers, and gradually cultivate their strong and sound character. They should be encouraged to actively participate in practical activities to improve their mood and enhance their interaction with classmates so that they can better adapt to their environment. At the same time, parents should learn to educate their children properly and improve the family environment to reduce the negative psychological stimulation to their children. If necessary, the child must be treated with medication under the guidance of a doctor, and parents should not give the child random medication. At the same time, family therapy must be carried out throughout the treatment process. Parents should not always complain or scold their children, but should be full of expectation and confidence in the progress of their children. Parents should not always complain or scold their children, but should be full of expectation and confidence in their children’s progress. They should insist on constantly cheering their children on, and should be able to patiently look at their children’s “faults” and give them tolerance and guidance. Although there is inevitably repetition in the process of treatment, as long as you adhere to the principle of “give your child respect and encouragement”, you will be able to give your child a brighter sky.