If your child suffers from ADHD, a walk in the woods or time in a park could help reduce the symptoms of the disorder.

So says Sara Miller, a member of The Landscape and Human Health Laboratory of the University of Illinois.

On Tuesday, she presented a program - which the Grundy County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Mazon River Stewardship Initiative sponsored - that showed the benefits of taking your children outside.

“Take ‘Em Out: Why Adults Should Help Children Explore Nature” explained the numerous benefits children can garner by just spending more time in green settings.

“All humans benefit from being outside in nature,” said Miller. “Those that spend time outside are normally more physically active and live longer lives, but those aren’t the only benefits for children.”

Read the full article here.

SYMPTOMS OF CHILDHOOD/ADOLESCENT DEPRESSION

• Drop in school performance
• Weight loss or gain
• Stomachaches
• Insomnia
• Social withdrawal
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Isolation
• Apathy
• Fatigue
• Lack of concentration

Children experiencing a major depressive episode may appear or feel irritable, rather than depressed. These symptoms are sometimes hard to observe and notice for some busy parents or guardians, that is why constant communication and professional help are very important.

Depression may occur at almost any stage of life, from childhood to middle or old age, as a result of a number of different factors that lead to chemical changes in the brain. Traumatic experiences, chronic stress, emotional loss, dysfunctional interpersonal relationships, social isolation, biological changes, aging, and inherited predisposition are common triggers for the symptoms of depression. Depression is classified according to the symptoms displayed and patterns of occurrence. Types of depression include major depressive disorder, bipolar depressive disorder, psychotic depressive disorder, postpartum depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and seasonal disorder. Additional types of depression are included under the label of atypical depressive disorder. Many symptoms overlap among the types of depression, and not all people with depression experience all the symptoms associated with their particular type of the disorder.

Most of us who live in industrialized parts of the world know that it is sometimes not friendly. With all the advanced technology that we have and all the things that make life “easier”, all the amenities  of dour modern world we sometimes feel alone and sad, this is just natural and we somehow recover and end up as a better person, with a better understanding of life. But, sometimes for some people, the recovery process does not happen and they stay in the “sad” mood that they are in for long periods of time, sometimes years. This can cause a big problem and the correct term for this is Depression. Depression is a common psychiatric disorder in the modern world and a growing cause of concern for health agencies worldwide due to the high social and economic costs involved.