Parents may not always recognize when their child is suffering from a mental health disorder, especially when it comes to depression. Unfortunately, there are times when parents are a barrier to a child getting the help they need. Depression is an illness that affects the brain and it needs to be treated.
According to the Infants Act in BC law, there is no age requirement for children to receive health care. As long as a child is deemed by a clinician to have the capacity to understand the health intervention that will be provided, they can consent to it. And it can be life saving.
This article by Michael Shapiro is worth a read.
What do you suppose are the reasons why families may not accept a need for mental health care?