I am worried my 7 yo is depressed

[annoz]

My 7 year old son does fine at school, plays well with others, and is eating and sleeping normally. This past year he had some problems at school with a bully, and I know that was difficult for him. What really worries me is he lately says how he is unlucky- he'll say he's unlucky b/c he gets hurt alot (he has no more bunps and bruises than any other little boy) and when he is upset over having to do something he will say he wished he weren't alive, he doesn't want to be on this earth, everything in his life is bad, everyone hates him, no one is nice to him, and on and on. He did this at dinner last night and we talked to him and after about 10 min he was fine and back to playing. I am very worried about him, but DH doesn't want him to talk to a therapist b/c he thinks it's a normal stage.

[grandmaplusthree]

Please make this one exception. Time on "post" was not shown. Please

[grandmaplusthree]

Help letter sent. I do pray it is shown.

[jdtm]

JTDM- how did you know your child was suffering from depression?

Actually, we didn't but knew she was suffering from selective mutsim (a severe social anxiety disorder).  It was her child psychiatrist who diagnosed her with Selective Mutism and co-morbidly depression and sensory integration disorder.  She did say things as "I wish I were dead" and "nobody likes me" - similar to the statements of your son.  Sometimes a trauma (and what a child considers a trauma is often very insignificant) can trigger depression or some other mental health issue as anxiety.  I am beginning to wonder if the bullying at school might be a precipitant in the behaviours of your son.  I think it might be best to talk to your family doctor - I can't imagine a father not agreeing with this action.

[annoz]

He is not taking any meds. School has been out for a few weeks and I know who he's been hanging around with and nothing out of the ordinary is going on between the kids.

JTDM- how did you know your child was suffering from depression?

[momof1son]

does your child take any medications?  my son had similar issues and 3 yrs later, we found out it was a side effect of singulair ( asthma med ).  this medication is being investigated by the fda for side effect concerns in children.  

[jdtm]

I don't know if your child is depressed but our child was diagnosed with depression at six years of age so this mental health disorder does occur in young children.  I'm wondering if the bully situation is not occurring again - perhaps the same person or even another bully.  Have the teachers or supervisors at school noticed anything unusual?  Is he getting hurt a lot because someone is pushing him or picking on him?  Is someone (or more than one person) mocking him or making fun of him - at school, on the playground, etc?