Randy Cameron was shocked, as was his whole family, when his teenaged niece committed suicide. Even though she struggled with depression, no one thought suicide was a possibility.

"Teens possess a lack of, or inadequate, coping skills in handling depression, MacDonald said. In her profession, she sees 16-year-olds living the lives of 20-year-olds. They may be going to school, but they are working jobs and in relationships... It's a difficult task to get teens to admit their own feelings..."

Joyce MacDonald is a high school counselor who has seen her share of troubled teens. She emphasizes the important of recognizing the signs of depression, like a sudden change in grades or mood. Source: Leduc Representative

Labels: depression, symptoms, treatment_programs