The Dreaded D Word: Tips to prevent Children falling Prey
Depression : The silent killer, the insidious serpent in the mind, the horrible black hole is now catching 'em young. Children as young as ten to twelve are falling prey to it. Even a few years back, we used to think of our children as bubbly, carefree, innocent creatures immune to the harsh blows of life. Used to falling down and brushing off bruises with a smile, children had none of the chronic bitterness or anxiety that plagues adults. Today, the scene is starkly different. Studies report that about 2% of school going children are suffering from depression, which is the third leading cause of suicide among the 10-24 age group! Mind you, we are talking about depression that is radically different from"sadness" or a "feeling of low mood". Depression strikes children due to several environmental, physiological or biological factors, and leaves them confused and broken. Imagine a child, who doesn't want to get up from bed, is irritable, or has fo