teen depression (please read) ?
Q.I am a sixteen year old girl living in Canada. In the past few weeks my friends and I have had to face the harsh reality that suicide is more than just "someone elses problem." Several of my friends are having difficulty coping with life, and we have to turn to eachother for help. We had no help from our parents, although most of us tried.
A.My mother turned to lectures about how I have to stand on my own, and that going into the psych ward for therapy (which I seriously needed) wasn't what I needed. Nevermind that I have come awfully close to attempting suicide myself. My friend Brian also turned to his parents, who are still living in denile. When they saw that he had carved up his arm and covered his hands with exacto blade cuts, they simply grounded him. I'm not saying that all parents are like this, and I'm not saying that all teenagers are suicidal (though I have proven that most of us give it serious thought). My friends and I are not skaters, or stoners, or any other cute little steriotype that you can slap on us. We are people who are doing the best to survive as we know how. To sum things up, I just want you to know that sometimes your kids need your help. We can't always be strong, and it hurts to be turned away from your own parents. Don't be blind, or live in denile. My mother has seen the scars on my arms and the razors in my room, but when I asked for help I was denied. Don't underestimate our problems. In the past few years, I have come face to face with things that many adults refuse to give me credit for. Just listen to your children, don't accuse or deny. Just be there. I have been noticing that my own daughter is going through rough times and have been trying to find ways to help that "she" thinks are helpful. One thing I found was a book called "Reviving Ophelia" which was written by a counselor who worked with young teens. She has some interesting things to say about cutting behavior and to wake up parents out of the rosy dream that our daughters today have the same stuff to handle that we ourselves went through lo those many years ago. The author points out that life is much more intense for women at a much younger age than it was 20 years ago. I hope you find the inner resources to keep on going; you're alive on this planet for a reason and we need you to be here to grow into the person you came here to be. I know you didn't ask for advise but I am really concerned about you guys. Is it possible to ask your parents to let you go to a medical doctor and then tell the doctor what is going on? I understand Canada has universal health care--would this be helpful for you at all? Depression is a medical condition and can often be alieviated with proper use of drugs. Is there some sort of hotline where you can get help or a charity? What about your pastor or priest--could he/she intercede for you with your parents so they will understand the gravity of the problem? Please, don't give up searching for help. Let us know how you are doing.
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