Fortunately, they weren't knowledgeable about the lethal dosage. Because they were convinced that no one cared, they told no one. But things got a little better, and they didn't repeat. That's the best news about depression. It usually doesn't last too long.
Patients usually respond well to treatment, both medication and psychotherapy.
Parents can often make some adjustments in the way the family interacts to help a child or teen feel better. The bad news is that so few get help when they need it. Among depressed adults, only one in three is treated. In one study of 27 severely disturbed teen suicide victims, only two were being treated when they died, and only one-third had ever been seen by a mental health professional. A practicing therapist for twenty years, he uses his own experience with depression as a tool to help him teach recovery to others.