Emilia+C.

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=__Adolescent Depression:__ = Its like your suffocating in an everyday reality. Where simple, everyday tasks like waking up in the morning seem next to impossible. Feelings of guilt, hopelessness and uselessness follow you everywhere you go. Every teenager feels down every once in a while, but imagine feeling thoughts like that everyday? Adolescent Depression is a major emotional issue and is the third leading cause of death in people ages 15-24 ("Teens Are Particularly at Risk for Suicide"). It is also the second leading cause of death in people ages 15-19 years old ("Untreated Teen Depression Can Lead to Suicide"). Adolescence is a time of change, where many teens find themselves feeling lost between the borders of an easy childhood, and the reality of adulthood ("Untreated Teen Depression Can Lead to Suicide"). Most people say that the teenage years are the "golden years" and that they're the "best years of our lives". If this is true than why is it the third leading cause of death? Did you know that 14 people between the ages 15-24 die of depression/suicide everyday? Thats one person every hundred minutes. ("Untreated Teen Depression Can Lead to Suicide").There is something terribly wrong with these statistics. Im asking you to take a minute and help change these horrifying statistics. If you, or someone you know is struggling with depression go to this website to find ways to help. [] You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for more ways on how to help. [|http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/]

("Depression Puts Teens at Risk")
 * Joking around about commiting suicide.
 * Writing morbid stories or poems about death.
 * Reckless behavior.
 * Giving away meaningful items.
 * Long term changes in sleeping pattern.
 * Lack of interest.
 * Feelings of guilt and hoplessness.
 * Drug and/or alcohol use.
 * Antisocial beahvior.
 * Thoughts of Suicide.



__Causes of Adolescent Depression:__
There are many different causes of adolescent depression. A teenager may become depressed after a break-up from a long term relationship, or traumatizing life situation such as abuse or a death of a loved one. ("Teens Are Particularly at Risk For Suicide"). On top of everyday stressors such as, school, teachers, parents and peers, it can all become very overwhelming. Some Adolescents find comfort in the fact that if they died everyone would realize how much they meant to them, causing them to feel guilty for how they took that person for granted. It can be a bad break-up, death of a loved one, or problems with their peers, but left untreated depression can lead to suicide.

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__Effects of Adolescent Depression:__
There are many long and short term effects of Adolescent/Teen depression. If left untreated it will lead to suicide. Teenagers who are depressed suffer from overwhelming emotions causing them to act recklessly. They can start habits of drugs or alcohol use. Some cope with their overwhelming emotions by self-inflicted injuries. Others even pick up other serious issues like eating disorders as a way to cope. Many patients who have eating disorders admit that they used the disorder as a way to cope with personal and emotional burdens. Overall there are no positive effects of Adolescent depression. If you, or someone you know is depressed and/or suicidal there is help. click or call. [] **1-800-273-TALK**



__Background Information:__
Adolescence is a time of change for many teenagers, where their just figuring out who they are. Adolescent depression isnt just bad mood swings or occasional sadness. Its a serious problem and is much more than that. If this depression is left untreated it can lead to high-risk behavior such as drug/alchohol use, problems at home with family members,problems at school, issues with peers, self-loathing, low self-esteem (possibly leading to eating disorders such as anorexia or bullemia) and even suicide. Luckily adolescent depression can be treated. There are many options any many ways to help.



For more information, and other ways to help, click on the websites below. [|www.nlm.nih.gov] this is a good unbiased website about teenage depression. [|www.about-teen-depression.com] for more interesting information. www.healthscout.com

__Conclusion:__
I personally feel that no matter how old, or young you are no one should ever feel that their life isn't worth living. Depression is a very serious emotional issue, and is not adressed enough. Each person can make a diffrence.This reasearch and these statistics will forever leave a mark in my mind untill they are changed. Today, 14 people felt that there lives were not worth it anymore. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in Adolescents. There are ways to prevent, and change this. I feel one of the best ways to help is to listen. Take your blinders off and put yourself in someone elses shoes for once. Don't judge them, you have no idea what they've been through. If you, or someone you know is depressed and/or suicidal, there are options. There is proffesional help and many other options. You are not alone. No one should ever have to feel this way. No one should ever feel that death is the only way to escape their problems. So, the next time you see someone being picked on, or a person joking about how they feel, dont let them become part of these horrifying statistics. Don't let them be one of those 14 people that commited suicide today.Stand up and be the person who changes them.