and important to someone else, or as an antidote to depression. (McCoy 81-82) "Suicide among teenagers has skyrocketed 200% in the last decade. If we were talking about mononucleosis or meningitis we'd call this an epidemic." (Solin 155) Suicide has become the second leading cause of death among older teenagers. Adolescents are particularly at risk for suicide attempts because they progress through a variety of rapid developmental stages. The seriously depressed teen may often have a sense of hopelessness. Many teens are too immobilized by depression to see any alternatives or to take any positive steps toward change. (Salmans 40) " All too often depressed teenagers don't have the experience to know that time heals, that there is always hope. They don't realize that they can survive a crisis and perhaps even learn from it." Life is often seen in absolutes, which intensifies any crisis. (McCoy 64)The destructive potential of serious teenage depression can have many long-lasting aftereffects. Having and keeping a baby, getting into trouble with the law, sustaining a serious injury as the result of risk-taking behavior or stunting one's emotional growth by anesthetizing painful feelings with drugs or alcohol can have a great impact on one's future. It can prevent a young adult from having a full, healthy, and productive life or make it considerably more difficult to do so. Depression is a growing problem amongst today's teenagers. Depression brings with it many problems that can be self-destructive. If a teenager has the benefit of early intervention and help in coping with his or her depression, however, the life script can be quite different. (McCoy 66-67) ...
