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

Suzi does what she can, always reminding her son about the truly wonderful person he is behind the dark clouds. That’s why she began calling his depression the Grey Dude—to reinforce to him that it’s an illness, it’s not him. “So it wouldn’t completely destroy him,” she says.

And there are some brighter days for Nicholas, when the Grey Dude doesn’t come around. Many of those times are when he is playing flag football, helping his teammates out on the field and making touchdowns. “It’s when he’s supporting other people that he finds the most joy. That’s when we see the genuine Nick, the happy, caring kid he used to be,” says Suzi. “He’s just relaxed and running around and full of energy. He’s not worried about what other people are thinking about him.”

But then, he’ll miss a throw and the self-blame will come right back again. Unfortunately, Suzi knows there are no easy answers for her son.

“You can get very wrapped up in the illness and the doctors and the medication,” says Suzi. “But when the good moments come, you’ve got to embrace the heck out of them.”