Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day is Wednesday, May 9 and the non-profit group Military Pathways is encouraging parents to take a brief online screening for adolescent depression to see if their child may be at risk.

Depression in adolescents looks different than it does in adults, medical experts say. While children and adults can both experience frequent sadness, crying or decreased interest in activities, depressed children will often “act out” and get in trouble at home or school. For this reason, doctors say depression in children and teens can often go undetected, even though research shows that depression treatment for children is as effective as it is in adults.

“No parent would let his or her child suffer a medical condition without diagnosis and treatment, and depression should be no different,” Doug Jacobs, M.D., who works with the Military Pathways program, said.   “We encourage parents who think their children may be depressed to take an anonymous online screening. It’s an important first step to helping the child.”

To help those who may be struggling, the Department of Defense teamed up with the nonprofit organization, Screening for Mental Health, to launch Military Pathways. The program is available online, over the phone, and at special events held at installations worldwide. It provides free, anonymous mental health and alcohol self-assessments for family members and service personnel in all branches including the National Guard and Reserve.