A recent cartoon in The New Yorker shows a dais with a number of people, all in caps and gowns, seated behind the lectern where the similarly clad speaker says: “My fellow graduates, today we leave behind the trappings of youth, step boldly onto the road of life, and move back in with our parents.”

Although the summer is approaching, teens dealing with depression don't have a vacation from their feelings.  If a teen is suffering from depression, it can impede their ability to enjoy normal activities or socialize with family and friends.  If left untreated, depression can lead to more serious, life threatening consequences.  Learn the signs of teen depression and how to intervene if a teen you know needs help by watching our Teen Depression Webinar on Wednesday, June 6 at 2pm ET.  This free, 1-hour webinar will be presented by Families for Depression Awareness and facilitated by Dr. Mary Fristad. 

Sign up today!

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Recently I was very upset about a show that was aired on ABC 20/20 “Just Plane Crazy.” They were calling people that were clearly having some sort of mental breakdown “crazy.”  I felt passionately that it was wrong. I could relate to one of the people they were making fun of because it was so similar to what happened to me when I was experiencing a manic episode.

Dr. William Beardslee of our advisory board is quoted in the May 2, 2012 Wall Street Journal Article "Parent's Depression Linked to Problems in Children." In the article, pediatrician, Dr. Perri Klass describes how important it is for doctors to check on a parents' mental health when they suspect there may be a problem.

Mental health clinicians and researchers have debated about the average onset age of bipolar disorder.  A study published in the May 2012 Archives of General Psychiatry may have another clue towards solving this debate.  The study, led by Kathleen Ries Merikangas, Ph.D., of the National Institute of Mental Health, showed that 2.5% of the 10,123 teenagers surveyed (approx. 253 teens) met the criteria for lifetime bipolar I or bipolar II disorder.

A new study being published in the June 2012 edition of Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People & Animals discusses an alternative therapy for depression. The article, entitled “Farm Animal-Assisted Intervention for People with Clinical Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” is an exploration of a treatment called “green care” or “care farming,” which uses nature to improve mental health and well-being.

Thanks to everyone who bid on our Strides Against Stigma sports tickets and memorabilia!  We raised additional funds that will go towards our overall event goal.  We especially want to thank the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, and Greg Stiemsma of the Boston Celtics.

A reporter from The Guardian, a UK-based news outlet, recently participated in the debate over male postnatal depression (PND) diagnoses.  The reporter, Ally Fogg, was responding to two recent articles--first,  Robert Lefever’s report in The Daily Mail, and second a piece by Barbara Ellen of The Observer in which Ellen calls the dads who claim to have postnatal depression “exhausting narcissists.”

"This past weekend, I was invited by Families for Depression Awareness to attend their fundraiser to fuel awareness about depression and other mood disorders. FFDA works relentlessly to educate people about depression: what it is, how it is treated and how to support those around you suffering from this illness.