Understanding Teen Depression and Suicide

Focus on the Family is airing an important two-day broadcast titled “Understanding Teen Depression.”

Depression and suicide rates among kids are staggering. Everyone should be concerned. Right here in Colorado Springs, we’ve had an escalation of teen suicide clusters that is breathtaking, with two schools not far from our campus having a total of 12 suicides in the last three years.

That sort of pain is not unique to our community. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, more than 3 million adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 report at least one major depressive episode in the past year, and more than 2 million report severe depression has impeded their daily functioning.

What should parents watch for in their children? And what should they do if they notice something?

Our guest is Dr. Gregory Jantz, a mental health expert and the author of the book “The Stranger in Your House, ” which will be the basis for our conversation.

He’ll explain why children are living under such intense pressure. He’ll also provide some insight for distinguishing between normal teen struggles and behavior that should concern parents. He’ll equip you to understand the warning signs of depression and outline what you should do if your teen is going through a difficult time.

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to join us for this important broadcast. I encourage you to invite other parents of teenagers to listen as well. You can hear our broadcast on your local radio station, online, or on our free phone app.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, news, parenting September 22, 2017 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura