3 Signs of Depression in Foster Children

Children are seen as beacons of happiness, and in many ways, they are just that. Unfortunately, depression affects more children than most adults realise, and foster children in particular are more vulnerable to depressive disorders. Since there is a clear link between trauma and depression, that should not come as much of a surprise though.

It’s important that foster caregivers keep an eye out for the symptoms of depression in children in their care. This is important because the right kind of professional care from an early age can make a huge positive difference in a child’s mental wellbeing down the line. As to what those symptoms are, let’s find out.

An Air of Sadness

Children and even teens are generally not very good at hiding their emotions, so it should not be particularly difficult for trained foster carers to notice if they have an air of sadness about them. The younger a child is, the more expressive they will be about their grief. 

Teens may not be as expressive to someone they don’t know very well yet, but you will find them to be much quieter than usual when depressed. Avoiding public contact, regular activities, an unwillingness to leave their room, loss of appetite, crying, etc., are all symptoms of depression in foster children.

If you see any of these usual signs of depression, it is very important that you talk to the sad child as soon as possible. It’s true that you will need some basic tact to interact with a depressed child and help them in the best way possible.

It requires special training to develop those communication skills, which is, unfortunately, not something that you are likely to receive from your Local Authority (LA). On the other hand, Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) do train their foster care providers quite extensively in dealing with sensitive children in care. If you live in Manchester, see the kind of training programmes IFAs offer here at thefca.co.uk.

Oversensitivity

Oversensitivity is a well-established symptom of depression and anxiety in not just children, but adults as well. If you find a child is oversensitive to the point of being defensive and/or angry at even the smallest of unintentional stimuli, talk to them about it.

Give them some time to settle down first, and then approach the subject. Be kind while asking what’s wrong. Don’t insist repeatedly if they don’t want to talk about it but do let them know you are there to listen if and when they feel like it. If you feel that they need more professional help, let the fostering agency know about it.

Extremes in Weight Gain and Loss

Both excessive weight gain and excessive weight loss can be symptomatic of depression. However, they can also be symptoms of several other medical conditions. Sometimes, children are depressed because they gained/lost too much weight because of a medical condition.

If they have a medical condition, that should be mentioned in their medical history, and you should have information regarding that. Taking them for a health checkup may not be a bad idea either. In case a foster child is gaining or losing weight because of their dietary and lifestyle choices, there’s a high chance they depressed.

If ignored, depressed children may make poor choices in their life and even as they grow into adults. As a foster carer, you will have an opportunity to intervene and stop their lives from falling into a downward spiral.