Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Can Very Young Children Be Depressed?

Let me say this, I do appreciate and enjoy The New York Times'attention to depression and mental health issues.

I don't see why it's such a revelation that little kids might suffer from depression, especially if there's a a strong family history of mental illness. People don't seem to get that along with a biological component of screwy brain chemistry, you can teach depressive thoughts and reactions through just living and being an example for your kids.

And no, I think that most kids shouldn't be cavalierly medicated, which is what would happen in the US. But that's not a reason not to try to give them the skills to deal with their emotions and to teach them that you don't have to feel like you're dead all the time.

But if wishes were horses we'd all go riding, right?

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