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Socially withdrawn children and adolescents may be showing signs ofdepression. While it is normal for a child to begin to pull away from their parents and identify more with peers as they reach adolescence, social withdrawal from friends and peers may be a sign of something more serious.

Learn to spot the telltale signs that indicate a child or teen is depressed and what you can do to help.

Why Depressed Children May Withdraw

Children who are depressed may feel misunderstood, irritable, worthless, or hopeless. They may feel like no one can understand or help them—so why should they bother keeping or making friends?

Having friends to talk to and confide in is thought to be very helpful emotionally, especially for those who suffer from depression.

Without social relationships, some children and teens may begin to feel lonely and isolated, two factors often associated with increasedsuicide risk.

If your child is having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If your child is having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Additionally, depressed children may lack the ability to experience pleasure in social activities, such as school, group activities, or social outings. So, they might avoid these situations.

How to Tell If Your Child Shows Symptoms of Depression

Social Withdrawal and Other Disorders

Social withdrawal is not limited to depression and is thought to also be associated with other disorders, such as anxiety,schizophrenia, and certainpersonality disorders.

In addition, social withdrawal was found to be a good indicator of major depressive disorder (MDD) in children with co-existing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study that tried to distinguish which symptoms best discriminate cases of MDD in children with attention disorders.

How Social Support Contributes to Psychological Health

What to Do If Your Child Seems to Be Withdrawing

As children navigate childhood and adolescence, they are likely to hit some bumps in the road, and parents and caregivers are often left wondering what is normal and when they should intervene.

Perhaps they’re experiencing another conflict at school such as beingbullied. They may have been ousted from the social group that they previously belonged to. Situations like these may explain why your child appears to be socially withdrawn.

If your child’s social withdrawal lasts for more than two weeks, however, speak to your child’s pediatrician or other mental health providers for anevaluationandtreatment options.

Contact a health care provider sooner if their symptoms escalate or they are experiencing:

A Word From Verywell

If your child is depressed, an effective treatment plan can help put them on the road to enjoying their childhood and those around them. Don’t delay getting treatment. Give your child the help they need to maintain good mental health.

How to Help Your Depressed Child

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Matthews T, Danese A, Wertz J, et al.Social isolation, loneliness and depression in young adulthood: a behavioural genetic analysis.Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2016;51(3):339-348. doi:10.1007/s00127-016-1178-7National Institute of Mental Health.Depression: What You Need to Know. 2015.Diler RS, Daviss WB, Lopez A, Axelson D, Iyengar S, Birmaher B.Differentiating major depressive disorder in youths with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.J Affect Disord. 2007;102(1-3):125-130. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2007.01.002Cheung AH, Kozloff N, Sacks D.Pediatric depression: an evidence-based update on treatment interventions.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2013;15(8):381. doi:10.1007/s11920-013-0381-4Additional ReadingNational Institute of Mental Health.Teen Depression.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General.Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, 1999.

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Matthews T, Danese A, Wertz J, et al.Social isolation, loneliness and depression in young adulthood: a behavioural genetic analysis.Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2016;51(3):339-348. doi:10.1007/s00127-016-1178-7National Institute of Mental Health.Depression: What You Need to Know. 2015.Diler RS, Daviss WB, Lopez A, Axelson D, Iyengar S, Birmaher B.Differentiating major depressive disorder in youths with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.J Affect Disord. 2007;102(1-3):125-130. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2007.01.002Cheung AH, Kozloff N, Sacks D.Pediatric depression: an evidence-based update on treatment interventions.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2013;15(8):381. doi:10.1007/s11920-013-0381-4Additional ReadingNational Institute of Mental Health.Teen Depression.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General.Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, 1999.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Matthews T, Danese A, Wertz J, et al.Social isolation, loneliness and depression in young adulthood: a behavioural genetic analysis.Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2016;51(3):339-348. doi:10.1007/s00127-016-1178-7National Institute of Mental Health.Depression: What You Need to Know. 2015.Diler RS, Daviss WB, Lopez A, Axelson D, Iyengar S, Birmaher B.Differentiating major depressive disorder in youths with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.J Affect Disord. 2007;102(1-3):125-130. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2007.01.002Cheung AH, Kozloff N, Sacks D.Pediatric depression: an evidence-based update on treatment interventions.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2013;15(8):381. doi:10.1007/s11920-013-0381-4

Matthews T, Danese A, Wertz J, et al.Social isolation, loneliness and depression in young adulthood: a behavioural genetic analysis.Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2016;51(3):339-348. doi:10.1007/s00127-016-1178-7

National Institute of Mental Health.Depression: What You Need to Know. 2015.

Diler RS, Daviss WB, Lopez A, Axelson D, Iyengar S, Birmaher B.Differentiating major depressive disorder in youths with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.J Affect Disord. 2007;102(1-3):125-130. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2007.01.002

Cheung AH, Kozloff N, Sacks D.Pediatric depression: an evidence-based update on treatment interventions.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2013;15(8):381. doi:10.1007/s11920-013-0381-4

National Institute of Mental Health.Teen Depression.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General.Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, 1999.

National Institute of Mental Health.Teen Depression.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General.Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, 1999.

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