“A dark, brooding cloud slowly cast a shadow over my mind. » “I felt overwhelmed, oppressed by the burden of having to face a new day.” “. . . An overwhelming feeling of despair that was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. “It was like something else had taken over my mind.” “Darkness spread through me like a cancer (Irwin 1+). — These are descriptions of how Cait Irwin, who suffered from depression as a teenager, described it. They show how horrible and scary depression can be as a teenager. Depression and suicide are closely linked. “In fact, about two-thirds of all people who commit suicide suffer from some type of depressive disorder” (Irwin 47). Teen depression is a common but serious illness that can ultimately lead some teens into a downward spiral toward suicide, but both depression and suicide can be prevented if the symptoms are recognized and the appropriate treatment is provided. Many teenagers will experience some type of depression in their lives, and many people may not realize how common depression among teenagers is or how serious it can be. Many people also don't know what depression really is. In reality, depression is a mental disorder that involves being sad or irritable almost all the time, or losing interest or pleasure in almost everything. These feelings last for at least two weeks and cause significant distress or difficulty with daily tasks. (Irwin 11)This definition of depression suggests that depression is serious because it affects the things that adolescents do in their daily lives. According to the National Comorbidity Survey, “14% of adolescents experience major depression before the age of 18.” That's about one in seven teens. At the same time... middle of paper ...... by eliminating risk factors, teen suicide can be prevented. Works Cited Harper, Gordon, Andrea Marks and W. Michael Nelson, III. “Adolescent Depression: Neglected and Undertreated. (Adolescent Medicine).” Patient care. October 2002: 37+. Student resources in context. Internet. November 4, 2013. .Irwin, Cait, Dwight L. Evans and Linda Wasmer Andrews. Monochrome Days: A first-hand account of a teenager's experience with depression. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2007. Print. “Major depressive episode and treatment in adolescents: 2009” The NSDUH report. April 28, 2011: np SIRS Issues Researcher. Internet. November 4, 2013. .National Institute of Mental Health. "Depression." NIMH. National Institute of Mental Health, 2011. Web. November 25, 2013. “Teen Suicide.” Student resources in context. Gale, 2012. The web. November 4. 2013. .