Children are experiencing the pressures of today’s world at younger and younger ages. Symptoms of depression are being recognized during early childhood stages. Often in very young children these symptoms are a result of an environmental factor(s). As children grow older, biological factors become the increasingly common factor causing depression.

The implementation of the Early Suicide Prevention and Intervention Program in Mercer County will address this mental health need in children between the ages of 5-12 years of age. Children who begin to express early symptoms and warning signs of stress, anxiety and depression can be assisted through needs assessments, short-term counseling, and family intervention. Treatment has been shown to be effective, particularly when the causes of depression in younger children are environmental. Through this program children will be able to heal and manage their emotions better. Once their mental health has stabilized and begun to improve, other facets of their lives will improve and they will become healthier, more productive young people.

Adults working with children can be taught, and in some cases reminded, of the indicators of stress, anxiety, depression and suicide in young children. This information is a crucial first step in helping children at risk. These signs and symptoms need to be recognized before a child can receive support and who better to do so than those who work with them on a daily basis.

This program has two main components. The first is designed to help adults recognize young children who may be experiencing depression, suffering due to the loss of a loved one or have experienced another form of trauma exhibited via the symptoms of depression. Once these children are identified they can be referred to the second component of the program, which provides short-term counseling for children and support to family members/caregivers.

 

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Program Referral Criteria

According to NIMH data, 2.5 percent of children and up to 8.3 percent of adolescents in the U.S. suffer from depression. Left untreated, it can have a significant negative impact on development, well-being and future happiness, with untreated depression being the major cause of suicide (A Pediatric Perspective, July/August 2000 Volume 9 Number 4).