How does society often react towards depressed adolescents?
Interesting question. I think there are 2 distinctive sides to society. One half values rehabilitation, while the other shuns them and proclaims that depression is something you can overcome. I think there are instances where the depressed kids are left out of social groups. Of course, this only makes the their problems worse. I recently visited the Juvenile Detention Center in Texas. My group is doing a research project on Juvenile Corrections. The Superintendent explained how a lot of these kids have problems that arise from their home, specifically their parents. This, in turn, results in depression and low self-esteem. And the only way they know how to cope is to act out. It’s sort of their way of getting back at society. I believe that the more and more society overlooks adolescent depression, the more corrupt they will become. I’m not saying that all juveniles who are depressed will commit crime. But learned behavior is temporary when you’re young. As long as you reinforce the ri
