Teenage Depression and Suicide

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“A dark brooding cloud was slowly casting a shadow across my mind.” “I felt weighed down, oppressed by the burden of having to face a new day.” “. . . A crushing sense of hopelessness that was unlike anything I had ever experienced before.” “It was as if something else had seized control of my mind.” “The darkness was spreading inside me like a cancer (Irwin 1+). — These are descriptions of how Cait Irwin, who suffered from depression as a teenager, described it. They show how awful and frightening depression during the teenage years can be. Depression and suicide are closely linked. “In fact, about two-thirds of all people who die by suicide have some type of depressive disorder” (Irwin 47). Teenage depression is a common but serious illness that can ultimately send some teenagers on a downward spiral towards suicide, but depression and suicide both can be averted if the symptoms are recognized and the proper treatment is provided. Numerous teenagers will experience some type of depression in their lifetime, and many people may not realize the commonality of teenage depression or the seriousness of it. Many people also don’t know what depression actually is. In reality, Depression is a mental disorder that involves being either sad or irritable nearly all the time, or losing interest or enjoyment in almost everything. These feelings last for at least two weeks, and they cause significant distress or difficulty with everyday tasks. (Irwin 11) This definition of depression suggests that depression is serious because it affects things that teens do in their everyday lives. According to the National Comorbidity Survey, “14% of teens experience major depression by age 18.” That’s about one out of every seven teenagers. In the same s... ... middle of paper ... ... eliminating risk factors, teenage suicide can be prevented. Works Cited Harper, Gordon, Andrea Marks, and W. Michael Nelson, III. "Teen Depression: Overlooked and Undertreated. (Adolescent Medicine)." Patient Care. Oct. 2002: 37+. Student Resources in Context. Web. 4 Nov. 2013. . Irwin, Cait, Dwight L. Evans, and Linda Wasmer Andrews. Monochrome Days: A firsthand account of one teenager’s experience with depression. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2007. Print. “Major Depressive Episode and Treatment Among Adolescents: 2009” The NSDUH Report. 28 Apr 2011: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 04 Nov 2013. . National Institute of Mental Health. "Depression." NIMH. National Institute of Mental Health, 2011. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. "Teen Suicide." Student Resources In Context. Gale, 2012. Web. 4 Nov. 2013. .

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