Version July 2025
Please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.
What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of your child after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").
What should I know? —
Your child was seen in the ED for depression. This is a disorder that makes your child sad, but it is different than normal sadness. It can make it hard for your child to enjoy activities, perform well in school, and relate to their friends, family, and teachers. Depression is caused by problems with chemicals in the brain.
Depression can have a big impact on your child's life. Luckily, it can be treated. The sooner treatment is started, the better it works.
How do I care for my child at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for your child. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also do the following:
●Call your child's regular doctor and tell them your child was in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment if you were told to.
●Help your child take their medicines exactly as instructed, so they get the correct amount of each:
•It might help to use reminders or a weekly pill box.
•If your child is having side effects, talk to their doctor. Many side effects go away after a few days or weeks of use.
●Make sure your child goes to all their appointments. This might include counseling sessions, support groups, or appointments for medical treatments.
●Talk to your child about how drinking alcohol, smoking or vaping, and using recreational drugs can make their symptoms worse and affect their health. Avoid doing these things yourself to set a good example.
●Tell trusted family and friends about your child's condition and how they can help. Tell your child's teachers, too.
●Encourage your child to talk to family and friends they trust about their feelings.
●Encourage your child to get regular physical activity each day. Even gentle forms of exercise, like walking, are good for their health. If possible, try to do activities with your child. For example, you might take a walk or play outside with them.
●Help your child keep a regular sleep schedule. They should try to get 8 hours of sleep every night.
●Help your child find healthy ways to handle stress, like talking to others or hobbies they enjoy. Relaxation exercises, meditation, and activities like yoga or tai chi can help them handle stress.
When should I get emergency help?
●Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if:
•You think your child might harm themselves or someone else. In the US, you can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:
-To speak to someone, call or text 988.
-To talk to someone online, go to chat.988lifeline.org.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if:
●Your child's symptoms do not start to get better within 1 or 2 weeks.
●Family, teachers, or friends say they are worried about your child.
●Your child continues to have problems eating or sleeping.
●You child is functioning poorly at home, in school, or at work.
●Your child's medicine is causing side effects that bother them.
●Your child has new or worsening symptoms.
Patient education: Depression in children and teens (The Basics)
Patient education: Screening for depression in children and teens (The Basics)
Patient education: Medicines for depression (The Basics)
Patient education: Exercise and other activities to help with depression (The Basics)
Patient education: When you have depression and another health problem (The Basics)
Patient education: Depression in children and adolescents (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Depression treatment options for children and adolescents (Beyond the Basics)
