Glencoe Health ©2011

Introduction:
What would you do if a friend told you he or she was thinking about suicide, but made you promise not to tell anyone else? You might think that your friend was just dealing with normal feelings of anxiety or sadness, problems that everyone experiences at one time or another. However, when these feelings become overwhelming or last a long time, it is time to seek help. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has written a special guide for teens, so they can identify possible depression in their friends…or even themselves.

Links to Explore:
Visit the Home page for the National Institute of Mental Health and use the search term "Depression and High School Students" to find more information:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/

Directions:

• Click on the first search result link (NIMH Depression and High School Students) and read the fact sheet on depression in teens.
• Then answer the following questions:

1			Your friend tells you he or she is feeling down in the dumps. When is it time for him or her to check whether clinical depression is the cause?
2			Identify three factors that may contribute to clinical depression.
3			What percentage of teens experience depression in any given year?
4			List three warning signs of depression.
5			What can you do to help a depressed friend?
6			What should you do if a friend talks about suicide or has frequent thoughts of death?