Depression among Haitian children exists but is trivialized. This was one of the topics discussed at a 3-day scientific conference on depression in Haiti, supported by Plan International, which ended on Saturday.

Several mental health specialists have advanced data that allow us to understand the impact of Haitian phenomena such as domesticity, school violence or disasters on the mental state of children.

Stakeholders were unanimous in stating that understanding of depressive disorder is difficult for children because of the heterogeneity of symptoms. In addition, most of the time the signs that should alert parents are trivialized and interpreted as whims of the child.

Plan International joins the conference organizers in inviting the Haitian authorities to combat domestic violence, violence at school and take steps to reduce the factors that can contribute to depressive children. The international organization also takes the opportunity to invite parents to be more attentive to the mental state of their children.

HL/ HaitiLibre