Teenage Depression

It's a very sad day today because my 13 year old son just got a call that his friend (same age) just killed himself. This was a good looking, very athletic boy, whom everyone liked. I wasn't sure who he was when my son tried telling me until he mentioned "the really good one on my basketball team". Then I realized that his mom reached out to me a while back about training her and a friend. I knew who she was because she was always there to cheer on her son at the games...probably more than I was. It's just so heart-breaking and unfair.
Although it's only been hours since the tragedy, and there are a few rumors as to what happened, I heard he was taking an acne medication, which apparently has adverse effects on teenagers. I've been told that Prozac and Lexapro can cause "suicidal thoughts" in teens. Having been an 18 year old with suicidal thoughts myself, I really don't know if anti-depressants would've helped or hurt my condition at that time. I just know as a parent, I would do whatever I thought would help my child feel better and would do what I could to prevent him/her from EVER comitting suicide, even if that meant taking an anti-depressant. How are we to know what is right for our children? Here are some symptoms to look for in adolescents that may be depressed:

• acting out (missed curfews, defiance, etc...)
• depressed or irritable moods
• eating pattern changes
• criminal behavior
• difficulty concentrating or memory loss
• excessive sleepiness
• excessively irresponsible pattern behaviors
• failing relationships with family or friends
• inappropriate feelings of guilt
• feelings of self-loathing, self-hatred, sadness
• consistent difficulty sleeping
• preoccupied with suicide or attempted suicide
• reduced pleasure in daily activities
• obsessive fears about death or suicide
• drastic change in weight

If these symptoms last at least 2 weeks and show signs of distress, take your child or loved one to get some counseling or psychiatric help. If medication is suggested, read up on it and get a second opinion. We can't be inside the head of another person to know how desperate he/she is, but we can try to keep the lines of communication open and keep educated on what might be able to prevent a tragedy. I pray for this family and thank God for having my family safe as I'm typing this.