Childhood Depression

With any concern for depression with children, the first assessment would be for the child’s safety. Are they expressing a desire not to live, excessively withdrawing, sharing drawings or notes of death, dying or hopelessness? If safety is a concern, I would seek a pediatrician’s help immediately or take them to a hospital emergency room or behavioral health intake to be immediately assessed.

If a child is of harm to themselves or others, you may call St. John's Mercy Behavioral Health Intake at 314-251-6565 or take the child to the Emergency Department. This is only for immediate, out of control situations where there is grave concern for a child’s safety or concern there will be harm to others.

Otherwise, when there is concern for depression, a good initial assessment is essential. To find providers for this assessment, you may ask your pediatrician for recommendations or look on the back of your insurance card under behavioral health or mental health and call your insurance provider for help under your plan. The important part is not to ignore any concern you have that a child may be depressed. It is ok to ask a child: Are you feeling overwhelmed? Have you had thoughts of not wanting to live? This can be supportive for a child to know you sense there is a problem and are caring and wanting to support them.

St. John's Mercy offers a full Child/Adolescent service providing inpatient care, partial day programs, outpatient counseling and an outpatient assessment and treatment service with board certified Child/Adolescent Psychiatrists and a board certified Child/Adolescent Advanced Practice Nurse. Referral to our outpatient child/adolescent services require a Mercy Pediatrician’s assessment and consult referral to our department.