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Depression is common among children of all ages and especially among teenagers.

We're not sure how many children and teenagers have depression. It could be anywhere between 2 and 6 in every 100.^{1 2}

Depression is more common in older children, and the risk of getting depression rises sharply at puberty. Some studies have found that as many as 8 in 100 teenagers are depressed.³

Among children (up to age 12), as many boys as girls get depression. But by the time they are teenagers, nearly twice as many girls as boys have depression. We're not sure why this is, but the way girls think might make them more likely to get depression if something bad happens.⁴ Or it may be that the changes in girls' hormones at puberty increase their risk of getting depressed.⁵

Depression in children is more common in some family situations. Compared with children who don't have depression, children who do are:⁶

• Nearly twice as likely to be living with only one parent
• More than twice as likely to have both parents out of work
• More likely to have parents who have low incomes and less education.

We didn't find much good information about childhood depression in different ethnic groups. But here's what we do know:

• Hispanic-American teenage boys have more symptoms of depression than white, black or Asian-American teenage boys⁷
• Hispanic-American children and teenagers are more likely to have depression than white children and teenagers.⁸ In one study, 12 out of 100 Mexican-American youths were depressed, compared with 6 out of 100 white youths
• American Indian teenage boys are more likely to commit suicide than any other group in the United States. From 1979 to 1992, 62 out of 100,000 American Indian teenage boys killed themselves
• More white teenage boys try suicide than black teenage boys.⁸ In 1997, 16 out of 100,000 white teenage boys tried suicide, compared with 11 out of 100,000 black teenage boys. But the number of black teenage boys trying suicide is going up, while the number of white teenage boys trying suicide is going down.

Some researchers think that depression in children and teenagers is getting more common, but it's hard to know for sure.⁹ Children are also showing signs of depression at a younger age.⁹ Most people who ever get it are probably depressed for the first time before the age of 20.⁹

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.