by Eveline Gan Children and teenagers who are depressed may have symptoms similar to those of adults. These include having suicidal thoughts, low mood that lasts more than two weeks, and a lack of interest in their usual activities and hobbies, said Dr Daniel Fung, senior consultant and chief of the child and adolescent psychiatry department in the Institute of Mental Health. On the other end of the spectrum, depressed children and teenagers are also more prone to "engaging in oppositional acts", which parents may sometimes perceive as disobedience or rebelliousness, added Dr Adrian Wang, consultant psychiatrist at Gleneagles Medical Centre. "It's important for parents to sit down and talk to their child. Don't assume that he's just being a bad boy, especially if what he's doing is out of character," said Dr Wang. http://www.todayonline.com/Health/EDC090915-0000105/Knock-on-effect