Help Me, I'm Sad

Until the early 1980s, there was no official diagnosis for depression in children. But children can, and do, become depressed. In fact, the National Institute of Mental Health now estimates that 2.5 million youngsters under eighteen have experienced clinical depression--and the real number may be higher still.

"Help Me, I'm Sad" discusses how to tell if your child is at risk; how to spot symptoms; depression's link with other problems and its impact on the family; teen suicide; finding the right diagnosis, therapist, and treatment; and what you can do to help. For parents who have—or suspect they may have—depressed children, here is practical, easy-to-understand information from a compassionate and trustworthy source.Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1: When Sad's Good, When Sad's Bad
Chapter 2: Is Your Child at Risk?
Chapter 3: Is Your Child Depressed? How to Spot the Signs and Symptoms
Chapter 4: Depression's Link with Other Problems
Chapter 5: Everybody's Crisis: Depression's Impact on You and Your Family
Chapter 6: Kids Who Want to Die: Childhood Depression and Suicide
Chapter 7: How to Find Help: Choosing the Right Therapist for Your Child
Chapter 8: How to Find MoreHelp: Getting the Right Treatment for Your Child
Chapter 9: Parents as Partners: What You Can Do to Help Your Depressed Child
Chapter 10: How to Prevent Depression in Your Child: Parenting for Resiliency

Afterword

Helpful Organizations and Resources

Additional Reading

About the Authors

Index

David G. Fassler, M.D. practices psychiatry in Burlington, Vermont, where he is clinical director of Otter Creek Associates. He is also the chief of child and adolescent psychiatry for the Choate Health Systems in Massachusetts. He is a frequent guest on Good Morning, America and is regularly cited in such major magazines as Family Circle, Woman's Day, and Health.