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Have you or someone you know ever dealt with clinical depression?

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Depression: Suicide and Self-Injury

Suicide is a scary word, but here's what you should know about it.

Most people who are clinically depressed do not commit suicide, but they are more at risk for it. You may have heard people say things like, "Someone who talks about killing himself or herself will never actually do it."

This is important: thinking about, talking


Topics on
Depression:
The Big Questions
What Is It?
Signs and Symptoms
Manic Depression
What Causes It?
Asking For Help
Getting Treatment
Helping A Friend
Helping A Parent
Suicide and Self-Injury
From the Mentors
Depressed girlabout, or trying suicide is ALWAYS SERIOUS. If you or a friend is doing any of these, talk to a trusted adult IMMEDIATELY.

If you're worried that someone close to you may be thinking about suicide, watch for these warning signs:

  • Talking, reading, or writing about suicide or death.
  • Talking about feeling worthless or helpless.
  • Saying things like, "I'm going to kill myself," "I wish I were dead," or
    "I shouldn't have been born."
  • Visiting or calling people to say goodbye.
  • Giving things away or returning borrowed items.
  • Organizing or cleaning bedroom "for the last time."
  • Hurting oneself or purposely putting oneself in danger.
  • Obsessed with death, violence, and guns or knives.
  • Previous suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts.
Once again: if you notice one or more of these signs in someone you know, get help right away.

Self-injury is when a person physically hurts himself or herself on purpose. When someone who is clinically depressed does this, it might be because:

  • He's trying to change the way he's feeling.
  • She's desperately trying to get attention she needs.
  • He wants to express how hopeless and worthless he feels.
  • She is having suicidal thoughts.
Self-injury can be just as dangerous as suicidal talk and thoughts, so don't hesitate to seek help if you or someone you know is experiencing this.

Next: More on clinical depression and sadness From The Mentors.

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Depression 101 Quiz
Test yourself with our "Depression 101" Quiz.

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If someone I knew was talking about suicide, I would:
Keep a close eye
        on them.
Assume they
        were joking.
Tell an adult
        about it.


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