Singapore’s education system is often heavily criticised for putting too much stress on students and over-emphasising the importance of grades. More students from top schools report experiencing academic stress, and clinics saw an average of about 2,400 new cases of students experiencing anxiety and depression from 2012 to 2017.
As parents, it is crucial to look out for our children and spot the signs of depression or anxiety so that they can receive the relevant guidance immediately. As the signs appear differently in children than they do for adults, it can be tough to look for them. Here’s a list of things to look out for and potentially seek help if you see your child struggling with these:
Sign 1: Being upset
Children tend to display their emotions more than adults. They can be sad because of various reasons: a lost pet, family member, friend, schoolwork or missing out on something. If this sadness doesn’t last longer than a few days, then it’s probably not related to depression.
However, if they cry a lot or feel sad frequently for seemingly no reason at all, then this might be an obvious sign.
Sign 2: Not having interest in anything
This is different from a child who loses interest in an activity that he used to like. A depressed child finds it difficult to find joy in anything and is often indifferent to everything around him.
Sign 3: Feeling misunderstood
Try to talk to your child more frequently. A depressed child might feel that no one in this world understands him and finds it meaningless to engage in conversations with others. He is afraid to speak out as he thinks others might not understand him.
Sign 4: Feeling guilty
A depressed child more often than not feels that it is his fault when a problem occurs, even if it is uncontrollable. Guilt contributes to other negative feelings, such as sadness or loneliness. Seek help if your child feels guilty for prolonged periods of time.
Sign 5: A drop in grades
Having academic highs and lows are absolutely normal. However, a depressed child might have a sudden steep decline in his grades. Reasons behind this might include not being able to focus in class, having other thoughts or worries or just not wanting to do work.
Remember, the most important thing as a parent is to communicate with your child every day to find out if he is struggling. Sometimes, the signs can be obvious when we are more observant and alert around our children. Seek help as soon as possible before it’s too late.
For primary school students who feel depressed, they can contact Tinkle Friend at 1800-2744-788. Alternatively, they also have an online chatbot available during operating hours. Another source students of all ages can contact is Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), which offers a 24-hour hotline at 1800-221-4444.
