Growing up is often described as an emotional rollercoaster. There are so many highs and lows that come with the experiences of childhood and adolescence—riding a bike for the first time, finding a best friend, going through puberty and exploring sexuality. School, friends, family, hormonal changes—all of these different parts of a child’s life can contribute to intense feelings.

But if your child has more ‘lows’ than ‘highs’—low moods, sadness, low self-esteem—they may be suffering from depression.

As a parent, it may be hard to accept that even children can become depressed. What do they have to be depressed about, after all? They don’t have to pay taxes, go to work, or navigate the complexities of adult relationships. Childhood is often described wistfully by adults as carefree—longed for by nostalgic memory of a time when recess was the best part of a day, meals were cooked and paid for, and someone— a parent or caregiver—was watching out for you.