Depression and Suicide: An Introduction

Depression and suicide are issues that affect millions of youth and adults around the world. Unfortunately, while depression is a treatable condition, most young people don’t get even minimal care.¹ And if it’s left untreated, depression can lead to self-harm or suicide.

The number of young people that die from suicides each year is “a harsh reminder that suicide and suicide attempts are affecting too many youth and young adults,” says Dr. Ileana Arias, director of the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.² “We need to make sure suicide prevention efforts are continuous and reaching children and young adults.

By staying involved and being aware of what’s going on in kids’ lives, adults are more likely to be able to recognize the signs of teen depression and help kids successfully deal with difficulties and avoid serious problems.

Did You Know?

• More than one out of every 20 Americans age 12 years or older is currently suffering from depression.³
• Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people.⁴

• The more Developmental Assets youth have, the less likely they are to frequently experience depression or attempt suicide. Forty-four percent of young people with 0 to 10 assets, compared to 5 percent of youth with 31 to 40 assets, frequently experience depression or have attempted suicide.⁵

Depression and suicide can be scary issues to deal with, and tough to talk about with your child. But by staying involved and being aware of what’s going on in your kids’ lives, you can help them successfully deal with difficulties and avoid serious problems. And by knowing the symptoms of depression and the resources that are available, you can help your child get treatment if it’s needed.