Searcy, AR (LP) — Some content in this story involves with Suicidal thoughts and almost losing a battle to depression TW. Being a teenager can be a rough stage in life for a lot of people. With technology, beauty standards, having to make your own money and how high school is showing you what the real world will be like, life becomes a lot at certain times. Age groups around 16-21 are known to be the most common to deal with depression. Depression is the most common mental illness out there known to humankind. When you think about depression a lot of people just think of it as you not wanting to be on this earth anymore or just you simply being sad all the time. But really depression is more than just a sad face or emotions that a human can control in a lot of situations. Depression is a mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life Stated MAYO Clinic. No matter where you go there is someone with a smile on their face that is dealing with something in life.

Josh DeGroat (18), a senior at Searcy High School who has been dealing with Depression tells his story. Josh explains, “I’ve been dealing with Depression for about five years.” Depression is not just an overnight cure. It is a feeling that stays with you for as long as it wants. It takes time and process into how you can help yourself mentally and physically. Josh comments, “I can say that depression has weakened me in the times of depressive episodes but I know I become stronger in the end.” Young adults feel more weakened when dealing with depressive episodes but know that at the end of that they learn to become stronger and overcome the next depressive episode. Josh explains, “I’ve had suicidal thoughts but they were just little thoughts in the back of my head that I didn’t really ever wanna take act upon. Not all depression is just about wanting to kill yourself. If anything depression just makes you feel less of a person.” Josh is fully correct a lot of Teens and young adults do state that depression didn’t make them suicidal but in fact it made them feel “Less of a Person.” Driving and listening to music has become a huge coping mechanism to Josh and it has helped him get around the thoughts and feelings he’s had.

 Alyssa Salter (17), a junior at Searcy High School tells her story. Alyssa says, “I’ve been dealing with depression for about 10 years now. It all started when I was younger and has just stayed with me since.” As said before depression can stay for as long as you allow it to. Alyssa also states that, “Even though I’ve been dealing with it for so long it slowly stopped affecting me. Over the years I’ve built coping skills and learned how to control my emotions in some situations. I’m not saying ‘I am all better. I don’t have depression.’ No, I am saying that over the past couple years I have taken my time and put myself first so I can help myself heal and get rid of the thoughts I have.” Alyssa started to talk about the thoughts of suicide that came with her depression, “When I started having suicidal thoughts I would see more pros into doing it then to being on this earth and disappointing everyone. I would sit in my room for days to weeks on end hiding myself from the world. I would take my anger out on my body and cover it up with clothes.” With this kind of depression when suicidal thoughts comes up they should be acted apond. Alyssa didn’t see the point in acting on it and tells us why. “I didn’t see the point of putting Chemicals into my body just to make me fake a smile. I wanted nothing to do with faking more smiles. I would yell at the parents and tell them that all they wanted was a fake daughter. Afterwards I would notice the change in how they felt.” Depression on teens has also shown effect on the parents too because not only do the parents not know what to do they also don’t know what to say knowing that one wrong comment can trigger their kids. “I started taking medicine when I first tried to overdose. The moment I woke up in the hospital the moment I knew I needed to get myself better now or it was over for me.” Alyssa goes on to say, “I think that people that get pushed that far with depression should get help when they can because it doesn’t make you look weak. It shows that you are strong enough to come forward and recognize the problems you’re having.”

Mrs. Roddy, a Counselor at Searcy High School has been counseling for 25 years. She has faced students that have dealt with depression and she has helped so many. She goes by questions when a student comes in and talks about depression. Mrs. Roddy asks you “Are you being treated? Are you seeing another counselor? Have you talked to your parents?” Mrs. Roddy does this so she can get all the stuff she needs to know in case of an emergency. Mrs. Roddy explains, “Depression is not just something that you can just look at a student and know they are depressed now, sad, yes, but depressed no. Usually they will have to self disclose.” She goes to explain the difference that sadness and depression have. Students will go around the school and say ‘I’m depressed’ and trigger other students because knowing most likely someone with depression won’t actually come forward and say it like that.

Mrs.Roddy states, “There’s a huge difference between being sad and being depressed. Depression is a different level of sadness. It starts becoming a little more complex and sometimes kids look very happy but they know how to cover it up.” A hard part of being a counselor is you never know the truth. You can see one student in the hallways smiling and hugging everyone and another student that is just walking with earbuds. You would assume the second student was the depressed one but really it was the first one. A lot of times students that are dealing with depression will be very social one day and the next be shy and hidden. So you never really know the truth with depression anymore.

Over the years depression has grown tremendously and has affected so many teens and people.  You never know what someone is going through until it is shown or just they tell you straight forward. Using the saying ‘I’m depressed’ is a trigger to many people and can be taken in the wrong way. When you think of teen depression you should think more about what has this person gone through and what can I do to help them. Instead of “They are a kid, they will be fine.” Get the full picture and let that person sketch it for you before you judge for yourself.