Dealing with depression at any age is a challenge, but dealing with symptoms of depression as a teenager is an entirely different level of difficult. The teenage years are already a vulnerable time and when symptoms of depression start to arise, teens can become overwhelmed with feelings of confusion and isolation. As a society, we are conditions to think that certain behaviors are simply a “phase” but that can be harmful when those behaviors, such as mood swings, exhaustion, and drug use, are actually signs of depression. Teenagers generally want to “fit in” with their peers and be accepted. They also tend to deal with their issues on their own and not reach out for help. The stigma surrounding mental illness is one reason why teens find themselves keeping to their selves about feelings of depression. When people feel that they have no where to turn, it can lead to suicide. Each year, 5,000 young adults between the ages of 15 and 24 die by suicide, according to Mental Health America. We must begin destigmatize mental illness so that more teens will seek professional help for their mental health condition.
Click HERE for the full article by Liv Raimonde on Huffington Post.
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