Depression is one the most common ailments that young people face to today. Each year one in five high school students has thoughts of suicide according to the CDC as sited on Education Update’s site: www.educationupdat.com. More than 8.3 percent of the adolescent population will begin exhibiting signs of depression according to “Facts on Teen Depression” by Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz at Education Update’s site.

According to www.webmd.com depression is a normal reaction to many of life situations, but when those feeling intensify and hinder a person from succeeding in an everyday life he/ she is diagnosed with clinical depression.

Many people have felt the effects of depression in their life, but according to www.educationupdat.com only 1 in 5 people with depression seek treatment. Samantha Wille, fr., finds that talking to someone helps her get over her feelings of sadness.

“Talking to someone is the best way to help someone control [depression],” Wille said.

Wille has coped with depression in her life before, and knows first hand the feelings one goes through when depressed.

“I did not want to be around anybody,” Wille said. “You feel like you’re in a box all by yourself.”

Some have found that different out-lets of their emotions helps.

“I love to build lego-replica’s of what made mad and then destroy them,” Braden Hawk, sr., said.

Many times people diagnosed with clinical depression are prescribed medications to help battle their symptom along therapy sessions. The effectiveness of these medications remains unknown. Janie Garrison takes medication to help her combat her depression.

“Medications help a lot,” Garrison said. “I take them.”

During the weeks between Christmas and Spring Break people are most likely to become depressed. This depression is called Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. Wiley Shearhart, sr., attributes the lack of sunlight as the reason for mood changes.

“Humans are just like any other animal or plant and we need sunlight for energy,“ Shearhart said. “Thus, the less energy we have the less we get out and do things and the more we sit around our houses doing nothing. The less productive we are the more we lose our sense of self-worth.”

Students with depression have many people they can turn to. These include a parent, teacher, friend, counselor or contact the Hopeline at 1-800-suicide or visit hopeline.com.