Childhood Depression – It’s Okay by Maya Johnson

Did you know that anxiety and depression aren’t just adult problems? The statistics are startling: approximately 4.4 million children aged 3-17 have been diagnosed with anxiety, and another 1.9 million with depression. These numbers have been steadily rising, yet a gap in awareness and understanding persists.

Many adults still hold the outdated belief that children “can’t get depressed” or that their worries are fleeting. This misconception creates a silent struggle for countless kids who lack the emotional vocabulary to express what they’re feeling. They may not be able to explain the sudden tears, the persistent tummy aches, or the overwhelming fear of trying something new. They just know they don’t feel right.

How can we, as parents and caregivers, bridge this communication gap? A beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully written children’s book by Maya Johnson, titled It’s Okay, provides a powerful starting point.

The Hidden Struggle: Understanding Anxiety and Depression in Children

When a child is struggling with their mental health, it often looks different from how it appears in adults. Instead of saying, “I feel a constant sense of dread,” a child might complain of stomach aches before school. Instead of saying, “I’ve lost interest in things I used to love,” they might simply stop playing with their favorite toys.

This is because children process and express complex emotions physically and behaviorally. They may not have the words to describe the storm inside, leading to frustration for both them and their parents. This is why tools that build emotional literacy are not just helpful—they are essential. We need to give our children the language to talk about their inner world.

Finding the Words: A Review of “It’s Okay” by Maya Johnson

This is where Maya Johnson’s book, It’s Okay, becomes such an invaluable resource. The story follows a young girl named Ivy, who is learning to navigate the heavy clouds of depression. With gentle guidance, Ivy’s parents help her understand and articulate her feelings. They don’t try to fix her sadness or dismiss it. Instead, they teach her a simple, validating phrase: “It’s okay.”

Through their conversations, they reassure Ivy that it’s perfectly acceptable to not feel okay all the time. The book masterfully illustrates how to:

• Open a Dialogue: It models healthy, non-judgmental conversations about tough emotions.
• Validate Feelings: It shows children that their feelings are real and important, no matter how big or small.
• Empower Children: It gives them a simple script—”It’s okay”—to use when words are hard to find.

The message is one of acceptance and support, creating a safe space for children to be vulnerable without fear or shame.

A Personal Connection: Why This Book Resonated With Our Family

As a mother and dedicated child caretaker, I’ve seen the importance of emotional support firsthand. My seven-year-old daughter connected deeply with Ivy’s journey, and for our family, this book felt like it was written just for us.

As an adopted child, my daughter has navigated her own struggles with anxiety over the years. Research shows that adopted children can experience anxiety and depression at more than double the rate of their non-adopted peers. This, combined with a difficult ten-month separation while I cared for my adult disabled daughter during the height of the Covid pandemic, significantly impacted her well-being.

Watching her find a reflection of her own feelings in Ivy was incredibly moving. The book gave us a shared language. It opened the door for conversations about her fears and sadness, allowing me to reassure her that not only were her feelings valid, but that we would face them together. Johnson’s work reminds us that as parents, we must be prepared to address all our children’s health challenges—physical and mental—with equal seriousness and love.

Why Every Family Needs This Book

There should be no stigma attached to mental health. Maya Johnson’s book is a powerful tool in dismantling that shame from a young age. By teaching children to recognize and name their feelings, we are giving them a foundational skill for lifelong emotional wellness.

I wholeheartedly recommend “It’s Okay” by Maya Johnson to all parents, especially those with children aged six and older. It would make a thoughtful and meaningful holiday gift. In a world still reeling from the indirect effects of a global pandemic, our children’s mental health needs to be a priority. They need to hear, now more than ever, that feeling sad, worried, or overwhelmed is normal, and that it’s always okay to not be okay.

About the Author

MAYA JOHNSON is a young, married, stay-at-home mom of three young children. She grew up in Memphis, TN, where she attended Cordova High School and was an avid runner in track and field and cross country. After graduating, she moved to Knoxville, TN, where she obtained an Associate’s Degree in Chemistry from Pellissippi State Community College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Maya has always enjoyed working with children, with experience in daycares, as a camp counselor, and as a nanny. One of her greatest passions is drawing. She has been honing her artistic skills for years and has fulfilled a lifelong dream of writing and illustrating her first children’s book. Her commitment to promoting children’s mental well-being shines through in the impactful illustrations and narrative of It’s Okay.