By Alissa MobergAre you aware of the epidemic that is sweeping across our town; aka depression?
Just from experience I would say more than 50 percent of the students in one Junior High alone have been faced with depression or thoughts of despair. The community as a whole needs to get involved to fix this problem, we canít rely on the school counselors and parents, especially needed are other students.
Some students have already taken measures to solve the depression theme by being a part of SADD teams (Students Against Destructive Decisions).
We are taught what to do to help a depressed student or peer considering suicide, but I never knew how pressing a situation this really was in a school system like ours. I had heard stories about how one student went to a guidance counselor to talk about a friend that was possibly suicidal and how they saved a boyís life from a most certain suicide in another.
The thing that perplexed me is how they found out what the true intentions were of the attention-starved peer, but I know now this task isnít so hard to complete.
It happened to me.
A notebook was found this past week with horrifying details about a certain teenís feelings of extreme hate in her heart and suffering from not getting the love she desired.
My heart broke for her.
What could make someone so angry and tortured that they wanted to kill themselves? She needed to know that people did care about her and that she doesnít have to go through anything alone in life if she doesnít want to.
There was a reason that someone found that notebook, and a reason for the notebook being where it was in the first place.
I believe that divine intervention had to do with the discovery of that notebook and thereís no other way to describe the feeling my friend Amanda Nelson and I got after turning it in to the guidance counselor. God wanted that girl to live and wanted us to find her notebook (knowing we were trained in the Suicide Prevention program).
He knew that she was in extreme pain and needed help immediately. Thereís no other way to explain it.
Students, if you feel like youíre not important or you donít matter, talk to someone you trust.
No one can tell you that youíre worthless for any reason. If this young girl were not helped, who knows what she might have done.
I choose not to think too deeply on the possibilities. Parents, if you see your child showing signs of depression or hurt, donít ignore it; you need to address it before the situation gets worse. I know there are some parents who think, ìoh, itíll just go away,î but it might not.
Community members can help too: just by smiling at a teen or looking them in the eye during a conversation can say you care.
Even learning the names of youth in your neighborhood or church can make a difference.
Teens, talk to your peers, they will listen.
Go to www.yellowribbon.com to find out more about depression and suicide awareness.
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