What can I do at home to help my depressed child?

The following tips will help you help your depressed child at home:

Structure and routines create predictability and boost feelings of emotional security—and are exactly what your child needs. Maintain a routine as much as you can such as the same morning and evening rituals, homework and dinnertime, and bedtime schedule. Also, do try to make things seem normal even though they probably are not.

Know that depressed kids are discouraged and need encouragement. So curb those negative comments: they only discourage kids more. Start by tracking your current ratio of negative to positives.


Find a support group. Exercise. Hire a baby sitter so you can get out. Walk around the block. Ask for help. Put a “Do not disturb sign” on your bedroom door. You have to take care of yourself so you can take care of your child.