How does depression affect veteran’s children?

Children of depressed parents can be at risk for depression themselves, as well as behavioral problems and substance abuse. They end up taking on a lot of adult responsibility because the depressed parent is not able to care for them as they did before. A parent with depression usually withdraws from the family and does not communicate, so children are left feeling emotionally abandoned. The uncertainty about the parent’s moods and behavior erodes the security of a child’s home life. Depressed parents are often too exhausted to participate in the child’s daily routine. Since the child is not getting much attention at home, he/she often acts out in school and gets in trouble. A child with a depressed parent can end up feeling alone and worthless, which can lead to substance abuse as a form of comfort. Depression in a parent has even been associated with poor physical development in young children.