Teenage Depression Rates, PBS Special On Teen Depression And Suicide
Q: Did I tell you guys that my daughter (14) did her first report at
her new school on suicide and got an A+? She's really coming
into her own living there. I'm so relieved.
My first question of course was...um, honey? Why did you want to
do it on that topic? She said it was on the topic list and that
the general subject matter was ethics. The only student that got
a higher grade did his report on Dr. Kevorkian...go figure...
A:Knowing the difference between normal teen angst and clinical
depression often makes the difference between life and death. "On the Edge"
breaks down taboos and common myths about depression in young people, speaking
honestly and showing teens where and how to get help. Stepping in as co-hosts
are the members of popular music group Third Eye Blind, whose hit song
"Jumper" addresses themes of depression, suicide, and reaching out for
help. Three teens who have been diagnosed with and treated for depression recount
their battle-- and victory. Dr. Belisa Lazano-Vranich from the National Mental
Health Association gives us a doctor’s eye view of the symptoms,
causes, and solutions surrounding depression. Then, we visit small-town life in Pierre
South Dakota, and investigate why this city of 13,000 has the highest per
capita rate of teen suicide in the U.S. Pierre residents also show us how teens and
adults have joined together to confront the issue with education and
prevention. The program also takes an intimate look at the friends and family
left in the wake of suicide. Through information and open dialogue about a
longstanding social stigma, teens will get the facts and be better able to help
themselves and their peers battle a national epidemic.
This special, which was funded by the Corporation