Depression and Teens

-- from the pages of Parade magazine and Parade Classroom

Teen-suicide rates are on the rise. According to Parade magazine, from 1990 to 2003, the suicide rate among Americans aged 10 to 24 dropped by 28 percent, but in 2004, the most recent year for which statistics are available, the rate rose 8 percent —the largest one-year increase in 15 years! According to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide is the third leading cause of death for 10 - 24 year olds. The No. 1 cause of teen suicide is depression.

Have you read articles in the St. Petersburg Times about teen depression, suicide rates or the risks of
antidepressants?  Were there interviews in the articles with or advice from experts on dealing with depression among teens or adults? If so, do you agree with the advice?

How serious an issue is depression among teens? Have you known teens in your community or family who have suffered from depression? What’s the right thing to do when you suspect a friend may be
depressed? Does your school offer support to students who might suffer from depression? Do you think the potential risks of antidepressants for teens outweigh the good the drugs can do? Share your thoughts here.