Advertisement
Australia markets closed
  • ALL ORDS

    7,957.80
    +32.60 (+0.41%)
     
  • AUD/USD

    0.6513
    -0.0047 (-0.71%)
     
  • ASX 200

    7,703.20
    +27.40 (+0.36%)
     
  • OIL

    82.55
    -0.17 (-0.21%)
     
  • GOLD

    2,159.30
    -5.00 (-0.23%)
     
  • Bitcoin AUD

    96,819.86
    -7,291.10 (-7.00%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     

Kids Get Seasonal Affective Disorder Too. Here Are The Signs

Let’s face it, COVID life and the turbulent news cycle are bumming many of us out. But some people always struggle with depression at this time of year ― regardless of what’s going on in the world. And that includes kids and teens. Watch the video above, from Veuer, to learn what symptoms to look out for in kids and how to manage them.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects about two to three per cent of Canadians, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association. The condition is generally more prevalent in northern countries, where winter is long and daylight hours are short.

While it mostly affects adults under 50 (in particular women, who are diagnosed nine times more frequently than men), children and teens can also have SAD. To make this diagnosis, a medical or mental health professional needs to identify a pattern of symptoms appearing at the same time of year in the child, over the winter months. Of course, that means it takes a few years to conclude that it’s SAD, and not another condition with overlapping symptoms.

MORE ABOUT KIDS' MENTAL HEALTH

ADVERTISEMENT

In an article about how SAD affects kids, published this week in HuffPost, in the U.S., experts recommend that parents should consult a paediatrician, therapist our school counsellor, if they notice their child or teen is struggling with mood, motivation, sleep or appetite issues at this time of year.

“A comprehensive medical and psychological evaluation can help identify the problem, whether it’s bullying, substance abuse, SAD or other medical issues like vitamin deficiency, vision issues, thyroid problems or other illnesses that can present as...

Continue reading on HuffPost