Avoid placing blame

“Parents, too, need to realize that it’s not their fault if their child is depressed and that their child cannot simply snap out of it,” says Fassler.

It’s helpful for parents to learn which factors can reduce the risk of depression, especially in children who’ve already had an episode, and ways they can advocate for them during hard times, says Fassler.

“These include establishing a secure environment, so making the world relatively predictable; fostering open and honest communication, so your kids know they can talk to you about anything; adopting a constructive approach to discipline; and encouraging your kids to take up activities that will enhance their self-esteem.”

Parents with children suffering from bipolar disorder tend to have the most difficult experiences. Manic-depressive cycles in adults are usually seasonal, but children tend to cycle several times a day. Every day their moods swing through the gamut of human emotion. It’s exhausting for them—many are filled with rage and flip between hyperactivity and seemingly endless tantrums—and for their parents. One parent, a single mother with a 9-year-old son, said, “Hearing your child tell you that they want to die is crushing. It’s just not what you expect to hear.”

    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 9 Feb 2006
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.