Depression across age groups – what to know about depression

From the book – Chapter 9: Depression and Low Mood

Depression across age groups

• Children: may show irritability, school refusal, somatic complaints, clinginess, or behavioural changes rather than classic sadness.

• Adolescents: irritability, anger, school problems, social withdrawal, sleep changes, risk behaviours, self-harm. Increases risk of academic failure, substance use, and suicide; early intervention is critical.

• Adults: work impairment, relationship conflicts, parenting difficulties, financial problems, substance use.

• Older adults: may be mistaken for normal ageing; can co-occur with medical illness, cognitive decline, loneliness, and bereavement; increases risk of disability and mortality if untreated.

Read the full chapter – Chapter 9: Depression and Low Mood

Stories from real life

• Grey Weeks – Kavya, sixteen, used to dance in her room and chat for hours with her cousin in Chennai. Over the last two months she stopped answering calls,…
• The Quiet Farmer – Ramesh, fifty-one, farms three acres near Nagpur. After two poor harvests and a loan he cannot repay, he has become silent and short-tempered. He no longer…
• After the Baby – Fatima gave birth to a healthy girl six weeks ago in Dubai, far from her mother in Karachi. Everyone says she should be happy. Instead she…
• Grandfather Stops Reading – Joseph, seventy-three, lives with his son's family in Kochi. Since his wife died last year and his knees stopped him from his daily walk, he has…

More on this topic: Depression and low mood – signs, causes and the way back

More questions

• Understanding depression and suicide risk
• Understanding diagnosis and assessment – depression
• How is depression treated?
• Psychotherapy in the treatment of depression
• Medicines in the treatment of depression
• Lifestyle and self-help — support professional treatment in the treatment of depression
• Common myths about depression
• Understanding the thinking patterns of depression
• What you can do for yourself?
• Depression in men, women, and young people – what to know about depression
• Is it sadness or depression? The signs to look for
• What can I do for myself when I feel low?