Childhood depression

There are many reasons why a child can get depressed. First is a physical reason, they are just sick. Sometimes, depression is just imbalances in the brain such as hormone changes. But children can also become depressed because of past trauma, poor diet, their environment, or even because of past family history.

Signs of depression:

1. Irritability - Basically, they may not know how to talk about it, and it makes them angry. If angry most of the time, you need to find out why.

2. Defiance - No one wants to deal with a kid talking back or refusing to do chores. It can get so bad that it will be hard to get them to do anything at all.

3. Bad grades

4. Lack of energy (BTW, be sure to take the de-worm pill annually)

5. Weight loss or weight gain

6. Sleep problems

7. Poor concentration - This can come out in their grades, but it can also show in their interaction with you or the rest of your family. Poor focus or concentration is a symptom of depression.

Sometimes, your child may just stare off into the distance when you’re talking to him. It might not be because he’s thinking of something more fun. It might be because he’s depressed.

Usually your child may not be able to talk about his or her depression. You should visit a pediatrician, physician, or even a counselor or priest to help you.

Richard Baker

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Why is PIR important?

Now is the season for Performance Implementation Review (PIR) in different programs and projects of DepEd. All the 8 subject areas also conduct PIR. Just recently we concluded our PIR for WinS Program or Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools in which we are assessed on the status of the each school’s hygiene and sanitation projects and the accessibility to safe water, adequate toilets, and hand washing facilities in order to be ready for the improvement of the hygiene and sanitation practices among the learners until they develop life-long positive hygiene and sanitation behaviors even in the midst of distance learning. Why should we conduct this PIR? YES this will be of great help to every school leaders look back on their accomplishments and how will they be able to improve for the next implementation. Everybody will be guided on the right focus that is being emphasized during the PIR. They will also learn from each other through the sharing of different good practices from other schools while each continue to reflect if it is also doable in their own school. Indeed check and balance is what PIR all about and everyone should be happy that they have the opportunity to focus again on what is essential to their learners in any Learning Delivery Modality they have chosen.

Ronald N. Llerin

SD 7 PSDS – OIC