Suicide, self-injury, isolation—these are some of the serious effects of depression. Now, more than ever, people have become aware of this both physically and emotionally painful condition. Depression occurs not only in adults, but also teenagers.  No, teenage depression is not a choice or a pathway to being the center-of-attention. The victim, in fact, feels as though they are an outcast and feel ashamed, therefore most often, they attempt to hide any evidence suggesting their suicidal efforts, self- mutilation, or depression. It becomes especially difficult for teens since they are already trying to find their identity as well as facing other problems such as peer pressure. But, of course, until no one lends them a hand out of that dark hole they’ve fallen into, how can they be uplifted?

  Depression in teens affects not only their lives, but the environment around them and the lives of others around them. Once a teen falls into depression, that time period of their life changes so significantly that it almost becomes a wonder as to how their life would have actually been if Mr. Depression had not caught that innocent teen. Sometimes it reaches the point where you hear “He/she would have been alive today, only if…”

  Parents are challenged greatly if their teen is depressed and examples have been provided in the article Childhood Depression: Behind the Story on www.psychologytoday.com. One story was provided by the mother of a severely depressed fourteen year old teen who felt as though she had nothing to live for. This helped the reader realize how difficult and upsetting it is for the parents as well. In another case, the couple’s teen’s depression jeopardized their marriage since the mother  became conscious of her husband’s lousiness and tendency to “escape” or avoid any emergency situation relating to their child, leaving the mother alone to deal with everything.   

  Depression is serious but, thankfully, it can be treated. First of all, in order to actually begin the treatment, either the victim themselves must seek help or an acquaintance must recognize the signs and contact a source which may help, whether that be a trustworthy understanding adult or a hotline available to help those suffering teens facing depression. Some signs of depressed teens include sorrow and despair, touchiness, annoyance, resentment, constant crying over trivial things, isolation from his/her social group, decreased involvement in activities he/she normally enjoys, transformed eating and sleeping routines, impatience and anxiety, deficiency of enthusiasm and incentive, exhaustion, complications in concentrating, and the dead-giveaway—serious, even mild thoughts of suicide or death.

  It is highly crucial to get help and treatment for depression. After all, the negative effects are not simple rigorous melancholy, but more life-changing, drastic consequences. Such results according to helpguide.org refer to increased conflicts at school; thoughts of eloping from home; “substance abuse” or association to drugs, alcohol etcetera; “low self-esteem” or lack of self-respect; “eating disorders”; extreme and unnecessary usage of the internet; self-mutilation (as I already mentioned);  irresponsible and wild behavior, appearing almost as if the teen does not care about the outcomes of what they are doing; “violence” which can possibly result in homicide, and suicide once again. This is what can happen if depression remains untreated. I’m pretty sure that no one will wish for this series of events to unfold whether you are a parent, a friend, a teacher, a relative or a sibling of a depressed teen.

  Now you might think “How do I know if a teen is ‘prone to depression’?” Well, first off, a teenager girl is more likely to become depressed than a teenage boy; but that’s not saying that boys don’t suffer from depression, they do as well and often it starts from bullying by other peers for teenage boys. Anyhow, in both sexes, factors which can initiate a state of depression take the form of hormonal changes in their body, arguments with their parents for the need of independence, and particularly troubling or traumatic occurrences. These occurrences would consist of a death in the family or of a friend, child abuse, unsuccessful endeavors at school, the ending of a relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend, inadequate social abilities, “chronic illness”, along with genetically-caused depression which simply means that one or more of the members of the adolescent’s family has also confronted depression before.

  Trust me, as a teenager, there are many more out there who feel depressed, lonely, and think that “Life simply sucks, so what’s the use?” but you just have to remember that this is a phase of your life and simply asking for assistance could offer you many reaching, understanding hands. And as a parent of an adolescent going through this, you’re not alone; there are many organizations and groups out there created by parents situated similarly to you which can alleviate this arduous experience. As for anyone whose friend seems to be depressed, you should communicate with a potential adult who could help or call a hotline which is open to adolescents in depression; for example, 1-800-999-9999 is an excellent free and confidential hotline to contact if you are a child or teenager who feels depressed.