It is entirely normal to feel “blue” occasionally, or feel down for a while after something bad happens.

For teenagers with depression however feelings of sadness and hopelessness may last for weeks or months and can eventually dominate their lives

They lose interest in activities they used to enjoy, and relationships with family and friends can begin to suffer

Depression can lead to poor school attendance and performance, running away, and feeling of worthlessness and hopelessness And it doesn't go away fast… but still others contemplate suicide

Depression is not a sign of weakness, it’s a real medical illness. Among teens who develop major depression as many as seven percent will commit suicide as young adults

The vast majority of teens with depression can be helped with treatment, which typically includes counseling and/or medication

Unfortunately, most teens with mental health problems do not get the help they need and when depression isn’t treated, it can get worse, last longer and prevent teens from getting the most out of life

Major depression strikes about 1 in 12 adolescents. In any given six month period, about nine to seventeen year olds are estimated to be suffering from major depression

Teen suicide has become the third leading cause of death among teens followed by car accidents, and homicide.

All too often, depression is left untreated because people fail to recognize the symptoms and believe that it is just normal sadness, a phase that a teen is going through, or a sign of weakness.

Suicide can be a deadly outcome of depression. Teens who are depressed are much more likely than other teens to attempt suicide.

Suicides are not primarily a sign of “that there was something wrong with a person", but also that something might be wrong with society as a whole. Suicide prevention does not only or necessarily mean preventing people from committing suicide but also working towards a society where there are no reasons to take one’s life.

Amanda Todd a British Columbia teenager committed suicide to escape the effects of bullying on October 10, 2012 at the age of 17. She moved several times and attempted suicide after a school fight just to end the four year long bullying by her peers. Just five weeks before her death she created a you tube video that touched the hearts of many.

Phoebe Prince was 15 years old when she committed suicide

Ryan Halligan was 13 years old when he committed suicide on October 7,2003

Jasmine McClain was only 10 years old when she committed suicide due to bullying

Carl Joseph Walker- Hoove, only 11 years old

Montana Lance a 9 year old boy committed suicide because of being bullied

National Youth Prevention Resource Center &biw=1366&bih=646&tbm=isch&tbnid=d4fA4L7g5cntTM:&imgrefurl= /databriefs/db99.htm&docid=EV_CN13- 1S5auM&imgurl= UMikKuTIyAGJr4CYCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=863&vpy=147&dur=24&hovh=166&hovw=303&tx=171&t y=93&sig= &page=2&tbnh=134&tbnw=245&start=19&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r: 23,s:0,i:156 &biw=1366&bih=646&tbm=isch&tbnid=uODSae9vqP0sGM:&imgrefurl= revention/suicide/statistics/rates01.html&docid=UUnHm-OPBaRx- M&imgurl= ei=L8y8UMikKuTIyAGJr4CYCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=403&vpy=128&dur=610&hovh=198&hovw=255& tx=148&ty=104&sig= &page=1&tbnh=145&tbnw=194&start=0&ndsp=19&ved= 1t:429,r:2,s:0,i:89 &biw=1366&bih=646&tbm=isch&tbnid=UmIDZkw92ODE2M:&imgrefurl= prevention/suicide/statistics/mechanism04.html&docid=xQ- Us25mkjKs6M&imgurl= w=555&h=432&ei=L8y8UMikKuTIyAGJr4CYCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=387&vpy=290&dur=1015&hovh= 198&hovw=255&tx=136&ty=76&sig= &page=1&tbnh=137&tbnw=161&start=0 &ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0,i:107 bih=646&tbm=isch&tbnid=lQnFph-isBT-GM:&imgrefurl= us/technologysafety/cyberbullying.aspx&docid=NXkDzE0tYoQYHM&imgurl= ternetwork.org/Portals/340/CYBERBULLYING.jpg&w=362&h=331&ei=8ce8UKCVEvGEygGDyIGwBQ&zo om=1&iact=hc&vpx=4&vpy=107&dur=51&hovh=215&hovw=235&tx=118&ty=96&sig= &page=3&tbnh=141&tbnw=146&start=50&ndsp=31&ved=1t:429,r:57,s:0,i:289 content/uploads/2012/07/43379_mdh_new_bullying_041411f_600x404.jpg