The Depressed Child: A Parent's Guide for Rescuing Kids

Rating:
Summary: Finally, there is help!
Review: As someone who has experience child and adolescent depression from both directions-having been a depressed child and the mother of a depressed adolescent-I couldn't stop my head from nodding in agreement with each "hopeless belief" Dr. Riley uncovered and addressed in his most recent book, The Depressed Child: A Parent's Guide for Rescuing Kids. I quietly folded the book back together after reading the last chapter, filled with a sense of relief. Finally, there is help out there!

With this book, Dr. Riley confirms the seriousness of a childhood problem often ignored and rarely understood by parents (and other adults responsible for the well-being of children). But, unlike other books written on this subject, he is not satisfied with simply bringing child and adolescent depression to a level of awareness. Instead, in a very calm yet firm, non-confrontational yet assertive tone, Dr. Riley insists that parents accept responsibility and take an active role in rescuing their children from depression. And just as clearly he provides them, in the form of "replacement beliefs," with the lifelines they need to do so.

While he acknowledges that chemical imbalances can cause depression, Dr. Riley's focus is on cognitive, or thought-based, depression. The book is organized around ten hopeless beliefs depressed children and adolescents often adopt about their selves and their lives. By using real-life examples from his years as a practicing child and adolescent psychologist, Dr. Riley is able to let the reader see not only the child's negative thought process in action but also how to challenge and restructure it.

Readers will not be turned off by any psycho-babble or professional jargon. Instead, this book is written clearly with the intended audience, concerned parents, in mind. References and examples are tangible, realistic and current. In fact, Dr. Riley has worked hard to relate to the current trends of the day by making numerous references and connections between good old-fashioned humanness and the age of technology, for example when he insists that "Fortunately, the brain can be reprogrammed."

It is with one of his references to technology, however, that I have my one complaint about this book. In mentioning sources available for readers who want information beyond the focus of his book, Dr. Riley suggests that any information acquired via any web site "should be read with a grain of salt." Certainly there are many, many web sites that should be discounted in terms of accuracy and believability; there are, however, effective ways to establish the credibility of the architect and information posted. The blessing of the Internet is that it has flung wide open doors that previously blocked information, knowledge and support from a huge segment of society and has piqued the curiosity and satisfied the needs of millions. As a matter a fact, I never would have known about Dr. Riley's book, if it wasn't for being "wired" - and for that matter, nor would this review exist without the aid of a web site. I certainly hope those who read this book review take what I have to say with much more than a grain of salt.

In his book, Dr. Riley states that childhood and adolescent depression is "the brain's attempt to get the conscious mind's attention." The Depressed Child: A Parent's Guide for Rescuing Kids is Dr. Riley's attempt to get the parents' attention. While the real value of this book comes to those who have a child already identified as being depressed (there is still a desparate need for a book that helps parents recognize early signs of depression), given the social climate of today it should be required reading for parents of all school-aged children.

Rating:
Summary: Sobering, powerful, and essential
Review: The Depressed Child: A Parent's Guide To Rescuing Kids is a book written to empower parents who feel helpless in understanding the negative self-images and unhappy emotions that affect their children. Author Dr. Douglas Riley is a clinical psychologist who specializes in child and adolescent psychology, who has operated a private outpatient clinic since 1994; here, he presents parents with clear, detailed, easy-to-understand information about adolescent depression and what to do about it. Topics include how to overcome the "I'm inferior" myth; how to handle the "miniature marriage" phenomenon in teen dating relationships and providing consolation when these "marriages" fail; and how to evaluate and select from the methods to manage a child's depression. Sobering, powerful, and essential to understanding the mind of a depressed adolescent, The Depressed Child is highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: A must read for parents and teachers.
Review: This book not only describes the symptoms of depression, but also gives parents a plan to "rescue" their children. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is highly readable and understandable.