Are you the parent of a child who is often depressed? Are you a child who often feels down in the dumps and depressed? This article offers advice for both parents, other family members and children about how to deal with, reduce and even eradicate this depression.

Before I continue I would like to make it clear that I am not involved within this industry; I am actually involved with stuttering therapies, helping people to learn to play the guitar and working with a group of cost reduction consultants.

I remember from my own childhood having many periods when I was very unhappy and sad. Looking back one of my faults was that I was not willing to discuss my worries and fears with my parents and basically kept them bottled up inside of me. The result of this lack of communication, on my behalf, meant that I was very much on my own with any issues that I had. Looking back it would have been a lot better for me personally if I had been a lot more open with my parents about the problems that I was facing; talking was certainly not my speciality at the time however.

I am now a parent of two children myself and am always looking out for them. I have made it very clear to my kids that they can talk to me, at anytime, about any subject, with the knowledge that I will listen and to try to help them as much as I possibly can without ever judging them. Life in general, with school as an example, can at times be quite tough, with things such as bullying affecting a lot of children. There is the added pressure of examinations and also trying to establish ones self within a group of friends. Moving schools and going through all of the bodily changes can also be quite uncomfortable for many children.

My family work hard to ensure that our kids have a superb childhood, one which is as stress-free as possible. This includes many family days out and where financially possible, a family holiday abroad in the summer.

My advice to any parent who has an unhappy or often depressed child would be to be very patient with them through these periods. I, as I have already stated would try and get them to talk about what is making them feel in this way and if they do not want to talk, would let them know that I am there for them if they do ever want a chat etc.