Miss Informed: Isn't Depression just a case of the "blues"? Won't he just snap out of it one day?

Mary Ellen: Depression is more than just a phase of sadness, depression is caused by a chemical imblalence in the brain, and is can also be caused by negitive thought patterns, set either by example or by sircumstances. It may be a long time before your friend can become happy again. He may require medicine, or therapy, or both.

Miss Informed: My friend seems more angry than sad, is his doctor mistaken?

Mary Ellen: No, sometimes depressed people manifest thier sadness into anger, as a way to cope, this happens a lot in children and in teens.

Miss Informed: Is my friend insane? Does He have to go to a mental hospital?

Mary Ellen: Depression does not make people insane, but it can affect thier judgment. Most people do not have to go to a mental hospital as a in-patient, but sometimes one can spend a night there after a very hard time.

Miss Informed: They tell me that I should talk to my friend about suicide, but won't I be putting ideas into his head?

Mary Ellen: It is very important to talk about how suicide is not the answer. You won't be putting any ideas into his head, suicide is either in his mind or not.

Miss Informed: My friend self injures, how could anyone do that?!

Mary Ellen: Self Injuring is a way of copeing with the emotional pain he is feeling. you don't have to understand it, but threatening to take away his blades, or other means of inflicting harm, will only make him resort to other ways. One can injure themselves with plastic eating utensils.

Miss Informed: I'm afraid to be with my friend anymore, will I catch his depression?

Mary Ellen: Depression is not "catching" in the way you think it is. you can become frustrated, and sad, because your friend isn't getting any better, but you won't "catch" depression by hanging out with him.

Miss Informed: Wow, I never knew these things! Thanks, I can be of help to my friend now!

Mary Ellen: I'm glad, Miss Informed.