So Young, So Sad, So Listen
A Parents' Guide to Depression in Children and Young People

This book provides authoritative and easily accessible advice to parents who think their child or teenager is suffering from depression.

Philip Graham (Author), Nick Midgley (Author)

9781911623564, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 9 July 2020

90 pages, 34 b/w illus.
23.4 x 15.5 x 0.5 cm, 0.18 kg

'In my opinion this is an excellent book which hits exactly the right note in relation to acknowledging the severity of the problem for the individual and for the family at the same time as giving hope through understanding and clarity of recommendations. It is never simplistic and does not skirt around the complexity, at the same time the reader is never lost and the voice of the authors come across through and with the young people whose experiences are detailed with the clarity of google maps. The authors are serious academics, but approach this weighty subject with an enviable lightness of touch. Parents and particularly young people who are experiencing mild, moderate, or severe depression will find answers to practical as well as complex questions in these pages. It is simply the best book there is for and about young people with the experience of depression. It should also be read by any professional working with this group for important lessons about how to talk to someone simply, but meaningfully who present with a diagnosis of depression. The best recommendation I can give is that I wish I had this book when I was 17.' Peter Fonagy, Professor of Contemporary Psychoanalysis and Developmental Science, University College London

Has your daughter lost her sparkle? Has everyday life become a trial for your son? This book, written by two experts in child and adolescent mental health, describes how to recognise depression and what causes it; and provides guidance on how parents can support their child, including up-to-date advice on seeking professional help. It gives advice on how to tell the difference between normal responses to stress and symptoms that are more concerning. It covers topical issues such as academic pressure, social media, getting a grip on screen time and cyber-bullying. You will also be given information about the different treatment options provided by child and adolescent mental health services, as well as practical advice and information about the support you can give at home.

Foreword
Introduction
1. How Can You Know If Your Child is Depressed?
2. Understanding Depression in Children and Young People
3. What Parents Can Do to Help Build a Child's Resilience and Resistance to Depression
4. Helping Children Cope with Common Stresses: What Parents Can Do
5. When a Child is Depressed: What Parents Can Do
6. Getting Professional Help: A Guide to Services for Children and Young People with Depression
7. Last Words – From a Parent
8. Message to Governments
Useful Resources and Further Reading
Index.

Subject Areas: Clinical psychology [MMJ], Psychiatry [MMH]