DEPRESSION IN CHILDREN: Medical or Psychotherapy Solution? Based on the review of Imperial College London on Mental Health and Depression, in any given year, 9.5% of the population suffers from a depressive illness. Depressive illnesses often interfere with normal functioning and cause pain and suffering not only to those who have the disorder, but to those who care about them, as well. If your teenager seems depressed or irritable, you may wonder, if it is just a phase he's going through? Or if your teen is moody and rebellious, you may think that's what makes her a teenager, right? Well, not always. For more than three million teens in this country, they are signs of clinical depression - a mental illness that can lead some teens to purposely injure themselves or even worse, take their own lives. Depression is an illness that requires treatment with medication or therapy. But how can parents tell the difference? Join host Dr. Winnie King as we journey through this very difficult and prevalent problem. You'll hear from two experts about how to recognize the warning signs of teen depression. And you'll also hear from two courageous young women who share the stories of their battles with depression. Amanda Pellicier - Teenager who suffered from depression, attempted suicide and also would intentionally injure herself. Vanessa Perez - Teenager dealing with depression. Depending on the patient's diagnosis, and how severe the symptoms are, the therapist may prescribe medication and/or one of the several forms of psychotherapy that have proven effective for depression. But after learning some standard medical tips, the question of continued medication or psychotherapy session will depend on the status of your teen but does this answer your real concern or it's just another band-aid that will provide temporary relief for a chronic problem? Do we have an alternative? For more details on this article please visit www.myteen.org