Supporting Children and Young People With Low Mood and Depression
All children and young people experience ups and downs. Feeling sad, frustrated, unmotivated or withdrawn at times is a normal part of growing up. These emotions often appear during stressful periods, big changes, or when life feels overwhelming—and they don’t necessarily mean a mental health condition is present.
However, sometimes low mood becomes more persistent or starts affecting everyday life. This resource helps parents and carers understand what low mood can look like, how to offer supportive strategies at home, and when it may be time to seek extra help.
Understanding Low Mood and Depression
Low mood can be caused by many different factors:
Sometimes the cause is clear; sometimes it isn’t. What matters most is noticing changes and supporting your child with empathy, patience, and practical tools.
Practical Strategies for Parents and Carers
Children and young people may withdraw when they feel low, but connection is still important.
Tip: Even small positive interactions help. A short chat, a shared snack, or sitting together can make a difference.
Children and young people may withdraw when they feel low, but connection is still important.
Tip: Even small positive interactions help. A short chat, a shared snack, or sitting together can make a difference.
Low mood often feels confusing or heavy. Validating helps them feel understood and safer to open up.
Avoid minimising feelings (e.g., “You’ll be fine,” “Other people have it worse”), as this can unintentionally increase shame or withdrawal.
Low mood often feels confusing or heavy. Validating helps them feel understood and safer to open up.
Avoid minimising feelings (e.g., “You’ll be fine,” “Other people have it worse”), as this can unintentionally increase shame or withdrawal.
Depression can reduce motivation, making even simple tasks feel difficult. Gentle encouragement—not pressure—helps break the cycle.
Try:
For older children and teens:
Help them create a balanced routine including schoolwork, social time, rest, and hobbies.
Depression can reduce motivation, making even simple tasks feel difficult. Gentle encouragement—not pressure—helps break the cycle.
Try:
For older children and teens:
Help them create a balanced routine including schoolwork, social time, rest, and hobbies.
Low mood can disrupt sleep—and lack of sleep can worsen mood.
Helpful approaches include:
Low mood can disrupt sleep—and lack of sleep can worsen mood.
Helpful approaches include:
Children and young people express emotions differently.
Options include:
Some children find it easier to talk while doing an activity such as cooking, walking or playing a game.
Children and young people express emotions differently.
Options include:
Some children find it easier to talk while doing an activity such as cooking, walking or playing a game.
Keep an eye on:
Sharing patterns with school or professionals later (if needed) can also help.
Keep an eye on:
Sharing patterns with school or professionals later (if needed) can also help.
Reach out for extra support if any of the following occur:
Trust your instincts—you know your child best.
If you are worried about immediate safety, seek urgent help through your GP, local crisis line, or emergency services.
Reach out for extra support if any of the following occur:
Trust your instincts—you know your child best.
If you are worried about immediate safety, seek urgent help through your GP, local crisis line, or emergency services.
List of places that support young people with MH issues
List of places that support young people with MH issues