Depression In Children with Disability

It’s common for children with disability to struggle mentally and emotionally.

Usually, the reason behind this is their condition. Their limitations, pain, and frustration greatly impact their quality of life.

That is because they somehow struggle to maintain a balanced mental and emotional state after they have gone through adverse childhood experiences or life situations that lead to their disability.

Thus, making them unable to regulate their emotions and often struggle with negative thoughts.

The Mental Health Condition Associated With A Disability

Depression

Almost all children with disability struggle with mental health.

The most common one is depression.

Though not everyone with a disability gets depressed, those who commonly experience stress are at risk for developing one.

Depression is entirely a different condition and not just an ordinary sadness.

Children with a disability deal with this because of certain reasons.

•         They feel hopeless with their condition.
•         They often think about the things they can no longer do anymore.
•         They begin to feel useless and unworthy.
•         They can’t accept the truth about their physical health limitations.

Children with disability symptoms may vary, and not everyone with depression shares the same.

However, the common signs that mentally ill disabled individuals might be dealing with are the following:

•         Lost interest in things that once mattered.
•         Feeling tired all the time or constantly having low energy.
•         Unable to sleep or developing insomnia.
•         Having regular mood fluctuations.
•         Dealing with poor concentration and loss of focus.
•         Sudden changes in appetite (weight gain and weight loss)
•         Self-harm and having suicidal thoughts.

Understanding Depression More

A depressive episode can be categorized into three: mild, moderate, and severe.

Depending on the severity, the symptoms can greatly contribute to disabled individuals’ way of living.

Mild Depression

Mild depression is considered the stage of experiencing low-grade symptoms.

Often, it only involves a lack of motivation, loss of interest in things, and a tolerable sadness.

At times, mild depression shares the same depressive symptoms with severe depression, such as irritability and sadness.

However, these conditions under mild depression are subtle and do not entirely impact disabled kids’ communication and social interaction abilities.

Moderate Depression

While sharing the same depression symptoms as mild depression (lack of motivation, loss of interest in things, and experiencing constant sadness), mild depression is somehow a barrier away from clinical or severe depression.

Moderate depression impacts a person’s life as it interferes with daily functioning.

These include deteriorating health due to lack of sleep, forming bad eating habits or not eating at all, wasting too much time on procrastination, and changing daily routines out of nowhere.

Moderate depression affects disabled children’s lives as they may experience a high level of sadness, worthlessness, hopelessness, and emptiness, as well as having negative thoughts.

Severe Or Clinical Depression

Severe or clinical depression is the stage where people with disability lose their sense of reason and control.

Severe depression is a state where kids with a disability or physical illness often experience a sudden change in their personality due to the inability to control and secure emotions.

Often, the condition leads to uncontrollable irritability, frustration, and outbursts.

Childhood depression may often show as suffering from intense levels of unexplained sadness, which often stays for a long period of time.

In some instances, clinically depressed disabled children often resort to self-harm and feel suicidal.

Severe depression greatly impacts children with disability’s social and family life, as well as damages their psychological well being.

Mental Health Condition And Psychosocial Support Services

With depression being common in children with disability, mental health and psychosocial support becomes necessary, aside from counseling and psychotherapy.

It targets the aspects of psychosocial health, including mental, emotional, social, and spiritual.

Psychosocial support service plays a big role in helping children with disability.

With the right support, children may enhance the following:

•         Social and communication skills
•         Self-esteem and self-resilience
•         Stress management
•         Mood regulation
•         Problem-solving and decision-making abilities

Psychosocial support services can restore disabled children’s social and family functioning.

It allows children to build on their mental and emotional strength while focusing on their weaknesses and lack of function.

Since children with disability often struggle with social interaction, psychosocial will be able to help them regain their confidence as they set goals for the improvement of their social skills.

From there, the kids will be able to build emotional resilience while maintaining relationships with other people.

Also, psychosocial support services encourage disabled kids to engage more in the community.

It may help them discover their talents and skills suitable for social settings.

It supports their effective approach to making friends and interacting with others on a daily basis.

Conclusion

Though there are some children with disabilities that do not require an extensive holistic approach in assisting with their mental health, there are the ones that need specialized treatment.

The goal of psychosocial support is to help the kids become more integrated despite their disability.

Since psychosocial support service promotes comprehensive treatment, it can genuinely improve disabled children’s quality of life.

Mental health care is necessary regardless of whether the depression is mild, moderate, or severe.

Serious Mental Health Condition

Seeking Psychosocial Support Service

When figuring out the best solution for treating depression in children with disabilities, it is significant to note that the approach may or may not be required at all times.

However, given the situation and the severity of depression, some children with a disability may require more than a lifestyle change.

It is essential to look for a care provider that understands the importance of holistic recovery.

Thus, choose the one that truly understands the things they have to do to help the disabled children.

If interested, you can contact Yahweh Care for more information.

They are well-trained health professionals that can help you with your children’s needs.

Visit their website and learn more about the psychosocial support they offer.