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Mental health Depression

• 2.2 million American teenagers experienced major depression last year. Fewer than half received treatment. ¹

• Mental health issues are greatly misunderstood. Young people living with mental illness are often teased and shunned and improperly diagnosed. ²

• Depression isn’t a choice. It’s an illness.

• Depression affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and how one thinks about things.³

• Depression causes pain for those suffering with the illness and for those who care about them.

• Adolescents are often moody. But when a child has ongoing and worsening difficulties at school, at home, and with friends, parents should be concerned and seek professional advice.⁴

• Untreated depression is the leading cause of suicide in teens.⁵

Sources
1. U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

2. National Institute of Mental (NIMH) Health NIH Publication No. 00-3561, Depression

3. NIMH, SAMHSA

4. Dr. Jefferson Prince Words Can Work: When Talking About Depression and Other Mental Health Disorders Blake Works Inc. 2007

5. SAMHSA

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