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Step 1
Look for changes in sleeping patterns, or a refusal to sleep alone. Be aware if the child displays hysterical crying when left alone.
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Step 2
Look for changes in eating patterns, such as refusal to eat or inability to stop eating. Also be aware if the child begins to hoard food, as this is another possible sign of depression.
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Step 3
Look for signs of bed-wetting, refusing to attend school or refusal to play with other children. Look for sulking, crying, bullying, fighting or picking on younger children.
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Step 4
Look for outbursts of anger, name-calling or breaking things. Depression in children could also be displayed in the form of stealing meaningless or inexpensive items.
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Step 5
Look for sadness, unhappiness or any verbal expressions of self-contempt and misery. Lastly, look for any talk of death or dying, especially talk of suicide. Never assume that children don't mean what they say. Always take talk of this nature seriously.
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Step 6
Observe how long the symptoms last. If they go on for a week or more, ask other adults close to the child if they have noticed the same changes. Ask your spouse, the child's teacher, babysitter and any non-custodial adult the child may visit with whether they have seen a change.
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Step 7
Talk to the child. Be available. Discuss frankly but calmly any big life changes (good or bad) that may have been happening. Above all, listen to what the child has to say. Don't expect everything to be said at once.
