A generation ago, the idea of depression among preschoolers and elementary school-age children was virtually unheard of. It was a diagnosis professionals such as Dr. Brett Greenberger, associate medical director of the MSA Child and Adolescent Center in Columbia and medical director of Jewish Family Services, said "wasn't even considered."Today, however, that is changing. Depression among even the youngest children is on the rise.According to the American Psychological Association, today's children are at a higher risk for depression than previous generations. Up to 9 percent of children will experience a major depressive episode by the time they are age 14.Myra Hettleman, a social worker at JFS, recalled one little girl she worked with at a local Jewish preschool. "She looked so sad, you saw it on her face. The little girl always drew dark colors. She was sulky," Ms. Hettleman said. "It was part of her character."Professionals cite several factors that account for this sudden growth. "We have an increased awareness of mental health issues," said Dr. Greenberger. He also believes that experts are getting better at diagnosing it in younger children.Others in the mental health field agree and also cite such societal pressures as contributing factors in increased depression diagnosis."We surmise life for kids is more complicated. There are dangers in the world, from personal safety to terrorism," said Joan Grayson-Cohen, associate director of the resource services division at JFS.She also pointed to over-programming of today's youngsters. "How many kids can achieve everything wonderfully?" she asked. "And if you're not over-programmed, do you feel like a failure and worry you don't have the opportunities?"Yet, depression is still sometimes difficult to diagnose. Symptoms in youngsters under the age of 10 often manifest themselves differently than in older children and adults. According to clinical social worker Debbie Jacobs, although lethargy and difficulty sleeping can sometimes be symptoms, younger children with depression may also display irritability, distractibility, inability to sit still, a lack of interest in going to school, a hard time attending to schoolwork, and, in young kids, meltdowns.The difficulty is that some of these symptoms may also be indicative of other issues. Distractibility can be a symptom of Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; meltdowns may simply mean a child is overtired or just plain hungry.

Dr. Greenberger said one clue is that if youngsters are tired, it should not happen every day for one month. If the problem goes away when given a snack, the child is probably hungry.Concerns sometime begin in the classroom when teachers and administrators, or even parents, ask for an evaluation. Consultants will often observe the child in the educational setting, talk with teachers and parents to look for behavioral changes."They might have difficulty making friends, act invisible in the classroom or isolate themselves in the classroom," said Ms. Hettleman.If there is a concern, consultants may recommend a further assessment. Many times, that evaluation can go a long way toward allaying parents' fears and ensuring them their child's behavior is age-appropriate.In addition, professionals may suggest that parents speak to a family pediatrician as an early step to rule out other medical conditions.When assessing young children, professionals look at the big picture — functioning in the family unit, among schoolmates, in social situations such as sports or dance. "We are looking for a change from the baseline — expecting to see something different in areas of functioning. At home, they always used to be polite, now they are argumentative and aggressive with their siblings," said Dr. Greenberger, citing an example.Treatment runs the gamut, from family therapy to behavioral therapy. According to Dr. Greenberger, medication is usually reserved for kids with the more severe persistent depression, when their safety is of top concern.Parents, meanwhile, can help alleviate some of the societal pressures that could be contributing to depression. Ms. Jacobs recommended making family a priority, setting aside time to eat together at dinner.Ms. Hettleman suggested making weekends not so rushed — don't focus on school every single minute. And Ms. Grayson-Cohen added that parents can take time to talk to children so they can share what is bothering them instead of internalizing it."When we were kids, we had so much downtime to be kids," said Ms. Grayson-Cohen. "It cleared our minds. Today, you don't have time to clear your mind." nOctober is National Depression Awareness Month. To help individuals and families who are coping with this mental health diagnosis, JFS will present the following programs:

• "Happiness Hour:" Social worker Janet Kurland will lead a discussion about how to lead a happy life, as presented in the book, "Happiness is a Serious Problem" by Dennis Prager. Friday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m., Pikesville Senior Center, and at other senior residences throughout the month. Open to the public.

• Depression Screening: Free screenings at the Health and Wellness Fair, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Edward A. Myerberg Senior Center.

• Weekly Tips: Throughout October, JFS will post tips about depression in the weekly Caregiving Tips and Parenting Tips, found on its Web site, jfs.org .