Consequences of Cyber Bullying

Three teenage boys were arrested today and charged with sexual battery in connection to the alleged rape of Audri Pott back in September at an unsupervised party in Saratoga, California. Images of the sexual assault were subsequently shared at school, texted, and posted online. After discovering what had happened to her and learning that the images were posted online, Audri posted on Facebook that her life was ruined and committed suicide just a few days later. In Canada, a story with similar tragic consequences has reignited open conversation about cyber bullying. In this case, a 17 year old girl called Rehtaeh Parsons was raped at a party while she was black out drunk in 2011. Images of the event were shared via social media and the ensuing humiliation and harassment was too much to bear.

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Depression and Teenagers : A parent's guide to understanding teen depression

Depression is the most common mental health disorder among adults and adolescents in the United States. The Mayo Clinic defines depression as a mental health condition that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest and in some cases it can cause physical symptoms. Depression is a chronic mental illness and requires long-term treatment such as psychological counseling, medication, or a combination of both. It can be difficult for parents to distinguish between normal teenage moodiness and genuine depression. Pressure to succeed in school, social difficulties, coming to terms with self-identity, and new thoughts of independence causes undue stress for many teenagers. However, persistent symptoms can help parents identify depression. Most experts agree that feelings of sadness or any of the symptoms listed below lasting longer than 2 weeks at a time is a red flag for depression.

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