Depression and the Child of Divorce

Welcome back to our series on dealing with the emotional impacts of divorce on children.  Thus far, we have looked at:

• Dealing With Kids’ Emotions In Divorce (An Introduction)
• Anger and the Child of Divorce
• Anxiety and the Child of Divorce
• Chaos and the Child of Divorce
• Confusion and the Child of Divorce
• Denial and the Child of Divorce

This week, we will look at the issue of depression in children of divorce.  Unfortunately, many adults are ill equipped to help children deal with depression because they do not understand it.

Divorce routinely makes the list of the top life events that lead to stress and can send someone down the path towards depression.  Children are no different.  Nearly all children of divorce experience some level of depression when their parents get divorced. Along with the divorce itself, children experience a multitude of other changes which can easily lead to depression.  Changes in living arrangement, schools, financial stability and so much more are thrust upon young children without the emotional wherewithal to deal with them.

At Divorce Ministry 4 Kids, we have put together the following one page infographic on helping children of divorce deal with depression related to the divorce of their parents (click on the picture below for a full sized pdf version of the pamphlet).  Please feel free to share this pamphlet with parents and others who work with children of divorce.