• Depression is defined as an illness when the feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair persist and interfere with a child's or adolescent's ability to function.

• Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for 15 to 24 year olds.

• Depression and suicidal feelings are treatable mental disorders.

• Major depression strikes about 1 in 12 adolescents.

• One in three American teenagers have contemplated suicide.

• Almost 5,000 teens kill themselves each year.

• Female teens are much more likely to attempt suicide than males, but male teens are four times more likely to actually kill themselves.

• Over sixty-percent of teens who kill themselves use guns.