Nor is psychotherapy paying someone to be your friends. These are all common misconceptions about mental disorders and they are all wrong. There is no shame to having a mental disorder. The fact is, though, that depression can kill if it goes untreated. For instance, one of the top three killers of American teens today is suicide.
Suicide is merely a symptom of depression.
And depression is a very treatable disorder. The word needs to be spread that it's okay to talk about mental disorders and admit to having one. It no longer carries the stigma it once did, and now more than ever, families are discussing these problems openly and getting help for them. Most mental disorders, like most diseases, are readily treated. But before treatment can begin, you must be willing to talk to someone and seek help.