Depression is on the rise in kids—but the signs are hard to recognize

Questions around why a child developed depression can keep a parent up at night, wondering what they could have done differently, but there’s usually a combination of factors. Experts look at things that span a child’s biology, psychology and environment, including genetics, trauma, abuse and relationship issues. “It ends up being quite a complex matrix,” Bancroft says. Conditions like anxiety and ADHD can increase the risk. Hormones also seem to play a role, and girls are significantly more at risk for developing depression, particularly after puberty, when their risk doubles in comparison to boys. Since girls are starting puberty earlier, depression is also showing up sooner. “Though not very common, we are seeing depression in nine- and 10-year-old girls who have started puberty early,” says Miller.

Unfortunately, most of the factors are out of our control, but one risk factor parents can keep in check is kids’ use of technology. “There’s a theory that the introduction of smartphones and kids’ use of them coincide with more mental health concerns,” says Bancroft. Psychologist Jean Twenge has been a leader in exploring this link. She analyzed a survey of 1.4 million teens and found that those who spent more time on screens and social networking sites had an increased risk of loneliness, depressive thoughts and unhappiness.