Functioning of a child with depression in the school environment

Abstract

According to the current classification of medical system, depression is an affective disorder, which symptoms manifest themselves through psychological, behavioral, and physical dysfunction. Among the causes of disease biological and social factors are mentioned. Depression in children and adolescents is not a new subject, but still there is no sufficient knowledge of the mechanisms that are responsible for its development, as well as the full range of symptoms, treatment and prevention of depression among children and adolescents. The problem of depression among young people is particularly important due to the presence in this period of high susceptibility to environmental influences, shaping social relations, as well as the acquisition of knowledge and skills necessary in later life. This can cause significant deterioration of family and social relationships, and the most troubling may cause suicide of the ill person. The problem may concern even 10–15% of children and adolescents, and the average age of onset for depression is 14 years of age and still decreasing (Heller, 2012). It is crucial to correctly diagnose depression, and that despite the difficulties in its treatment it is a treatable disease (Swiecicki, 2002, p. 152). The attempt to analyze the literature allowed the statement of the main facts about depression as a disease entity, and to highlight the increasingly frequent occurrence of depressive disorders in school-age children. The authors also pointed the way to deal with a pupil suffering from depression at school. An important recommendation was the need to popularize the various social groups of knowledge about depression, especially in the school environment where children and young people have regular contact, and which has a strong influence on their development, which can be very helpful in treating the disease.