Any theories on way depression is presenting itself in such young children?
There is a lot of different answers to this..
Society or economy.. Most child now a days are raised by school and day care.. Gone are the days where one parent works and one parent stays home and raises kids.. Sure some rich families can afford to do it.. But by in large, most families can't.. Both parents must work in order to make ends meat.. The loss of that time with a parent has a huge impact on kids.. They loose some feeling of stability, they also lose the support network they need to deal with the problems of being a child.. When I had a bully issue when I was little.. I always reminding of the golden rule.. 'Sticks and stones may break your bones but words can never hurt you.'.. You would be surprised how many children have either never heard it or simply don't understand it..
Parents.. Many of them don't take the time to simply raise their children and be a part of their lives.. Technology isn't doing kids any favors.. With parents like Gameboy, Wii, PSP, xbox, and computers.. Who needs real parents?? Parents love them cause it keeps the kids out of their hair and quiet.. Yet secretly they can and do cause issues like depression or other social disorders.. If a child spends most of their time playing games, they don't learn the social skills needs to interact with people.. Nor do they learn the defenses needed to tolerate interacting with some people.. Like Bullies..
Divorce is also taking a toll on the well being of children.. There isn't much to say here other than they can seriously damage a childs sense of stability and family.. I have my thoughts as to why the divorce rate is so high.. But will save them for another thread..
School.. Teachers no longer have the authortiy to punish children.. There is no discipline being taught at school and they aren't getting it at home either.. I am old enough to remember being in class and there as a paddle hanging on the wall that everyone was affraid of.. Nobody back talked the teacher either.. I can remember students getting smacked on the hand with a ruler.. Or sitting in a corner.. Sadly none of that is legal now.. While in some ways CPS has been a savior to children, it has also turned out to be their curse..
Society again.. CPS, mentioned above has also detered parents from disciplining their children.. For fear of losing their kids or having them taken away.. Parents in many respects simply can't discpline their children.. If you look at kids today.. That is the quality they lack the most.. Discipline.. Some teenagers even learn that CPS can be a means to do what they want.. They know mom or dad won't punish them because they can call CPS or go to their school teacher..
So there are a lot of issues that are not helping children grow up properly.. There really is no one area we can point a finger and place blame.. Changes need to be made by parents.. Society or the economy needs to change to allow for one parent to stay home.. Schools need to be allowed to punish students as well as parents.. Children need discipline.. They also need to the love and support to deal with all the mean people they are going to meet in their lives.. Less time on video games and more time playing with other children would also help.. They need those social skills..