Depression is something that affects families across the UK and is often commonly misunderstood. It also may sound like a condition that only occurs in adults however, it is extremely common among children and young adults and according to stats, it is something that they are frequently suffering with. According to the NHS, one in four young people will either experience symptoms of depression or be diagnosed with it before they are 19 years old – so it goes without saying that this is most definitely something that foster children and fosterers have to consider and be aware of.
Depression can affect children of any age and at any time. It is a condition that can manifest itself in different ways and can cause a variety of symptoms. Supporting foster children can be a challenge in itself before variables like this come into play. In children and young adults, the illness can be triggered by stressful life events or traumatic circumstances. However, there needs to be a consideration and appreciation that sometimes it can just be an innate conflict.
Naturally, we want our foster carers, whether single, married or fall into the categories of LGBT foster carers, to be in the best position possible when it comes to supporting their foster children and in this article, Fostering Dimensions take a closer look at depression in young people and help you be more aware of the signs to look out for and how to support a child who may be suffering.
Understanding depression in foster children
Depression is a persistently low mood that can be consistent over a period of time. Sometimes it can last for weeks or even months at a time and can be a very difficult state to recover from or see past. It can cause feelings of unhappiness, hopelessness and loneliness, all something that we work hard to avoid at Fostering Dimensions. However, there are many challenges way before just supporting foster children with depression.
It can often be really hard for young people to identify when they’ve got depression, and it’s often really easy to dismiss how they feel as a mood swing or general mood phases that ‘they will grow out of’. But depression is a real illness with real symptoms, so it should never be ignored or made light of. While all young people can suffer from depression, children who enter the foster care system are more likely to suffer from the condition for a prolonged amount of time due to their experiences and lack of resources to deal with then. However, this is why Fostering Dimensions work with foster carers to support foster children.
Recognise the signs
Depression hits in lots of different ways and can affect people differently. What one person may feel may not necessarily be what other people feel. Many people, including foster children also suffer physical symptoms because of the condition, and this can make spotting and diagnosing the problem more difficult.
Here are some of the symptoms which could show that your foster child is depressed:
Lack of concentration and poor focus
Sleep problems – either sleeping too much or too little
Isolation from other
Indecisiveness
Lack of self-confidence
Restless fidgeting and hyperactivity
Talking about feelings of guilt or worthlessness
A sudden change in weight (more or less) – Look out for comfort eating too.
Talks about self-harming or wanting to die, or actively self-harming
These are just some of the ways in which depression can affect young people, and your foster children may experience all or one of these and still suffer from the condition.
What can you do to support a child with depression?
The main thing to keep in mind is that it is important to be supportive as you can if you think your foster children have depression, even if it hasn’t been diagnosed yet. However, there are many more things that you can do in your role as a foster carer including:
- Talk to your foster child about how they’ve been feeling, accepting whatever they say in return without judgement. Encouraging them to talk openly about their feelings is one of the most positive things you can do to help them cope with their depressive symptoms.
- If they don’t want to talk, accept it, but make it known that you’re available anytime.
- Trust your gut feeling and know when to act. Whether you’re a parent or not, you’ll know when something’s wrong with your child and you’ll never be wrong in doing that.
- Keep them connected and avoid isolation. Allow time for them to get involved but never let them be isolated. Keep in mind that some alone time is good for them.
- Talk to Fostering Dimensions. We can help you find out more about their history and past experiences. This will help you recognise any triggers which may have caused the depression and generally help you to better understand how they may be feeling.
Raising a child always presents new challenges, but we’ll be here to help you every step of the way.
