Depression The ultimate teen guide

What is depression? What are the symptoms? Who gets it? Can it be cured? Schwartz, herself a sufferer, begins by answering the first two questions. From this general definition and overview, she follows with a more detailed discussion of the types of depression and other mood disorders. She then discusses coping mechanisms (unhealthy and healthy), approaches to controlling depression, and places and organizations that offer help. Writing directly to teens and young adults in second person, she attempts to engage with their questions and concerns. An overabundance of text boxes (photographs, testimonials, lists, etc.) detract from the continuity of the text, and the text itself would benefit from closer editing. Often sentence structure is choppy and jumps between topics. Statistics abound, but in some instances, they are misleading or confusing. An inordinate number of references are to websites; and Schwartz frequently suggests that young people conduct Google searches. Chapter notes are thorough and extensive; from these notes and the reference list, readers could find other, better, sources on depression. From the It Happened to Me series.--Petty, J. B. Copyright 2015 Booklist