If you’re the parent of a teen or someone who works with teens, you’ve probably already seen the mood swings and behavior changes. These episodes are common at this stage of life, but how can you tell whether teens are just sad and upset, and when they are depressed?

It’s easy to overlook or mistake their attitudes and behavior as something that will pass. There’s more to it, however.

Teens require considerable support and understanding as they struggle to establish their own identities. It’s the battle to break away from childhood and prepare for adulthood that causes considerable stress and upheaval in a teen’s life.

My new book, Understanding Adolescence: A Guide to Teenage Depression & Suicide explains it all, from the biological changes to the issues teens face as they move through the teen years and into adulthood.

It goes through all the various changes that teens experience, how they think, and how they are affected. The discussion about depression gives you vital information to help you to understand what’s happening and why. Included are the signs to watch for and how you can help your teen through those confusing feelings.

Although suicide is a dreaded subject, it has to be said. This book teaches you the signs and what you can do to prevent it.

Research for the book came from professional sources as well as from my own personal experiences. While a teen, I also suffered severe depression with thoughts of suicide. Fortunately, I survived those tough years.

My recent work with the Canadian Mental Health Association brought the topic forward in presentations to youth groups.

It became clear during those presentations that many people could benefit from a book that spells it all out in a language you can understand.

The book was originally written in 1986 and has just been updated with new information and formatted for sale online in downloadable format.

Get more details about my guide to Teenage Depression.