Parents and teachers may find it difficult to detect depression in young children, that can affect their social skills and academics, a new study shows.
According to Anxiety and Depression Association of America, as many as 2-3 per cent of children aged between 6-12 might have a major depressive disorder.
But parents and teachers face difficulties in recognising depression in children.
The findings, appearing in the Journal of School Psychology, showed that children who show mild to severe symptoms of depression in second and third grades are six times more likely to have skill deficits, such as difficulties with social skills or academics, than children without symptoms.
However, when teachers and parents were asked to rate a child's level of depression, there was only about 5-10 per cent overlap in their ratings.