“You are so lucky to be born when life is easy, and your family can give you everything you want.”
Isn’t that a comment that a lot of Millennials often have to put up with while growing up?

I was once a teenager myself – a part of the so-called Generation X. I was 5 when I first played a game on a PlayStation Portable (PSP), 8 when I received my first tablet, and 11 when I got my first smartphone.
Am I thankful for the luxuries I’ve experienced, thanks to my parents? Most definitely. Do they help make my life stress-free, though? Not as much as the people around me may think, considering the level of difficulty that educational materials pose has mirrored the innovations made by science and technology.
Nevertheless, I still consider myself lucky for only needing to worry about school stuff. My family members do not burden me to be on top of the class, yet they always encourage me to do well and excel in the activities I take part in. For the other millennials, however, it is hard to say the same.

The Problem
Various authorities worldwide report that the number of teenage suicides increased immensely over the past few years. In the United States, it declined in 2007 but heightened again up until 2015. Still, the statistics show that males are four times more likely to take their lives than females. In the European region, the countries with the highest suicidal counts for teenagers are Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, and Ireland. According to the National Poison Management and Control Center (NPMCC) of the Philippine General Hospital, 46% of the suicide incidents recorded in the country involved the youth since 2010 as well.
Despite hearing about these data, though, many people remain clueless regarding the reason why kids between the ages of ten to 17 choose to end everything at once. As mentioned above, adults tend to entertain the idea that children in the 21st century have fewer worries compared to youngsters in the past. What they do not realize is that the stress that springs out of that assumption causes more and more kids to develop depression.

The Cause
Peer pressure, academic pressure, societal pressure, and bullying are some of the instances that bring depressive thoughts to the surface. The teens going through any of these things find it hard to speak about the problem in front of their friends or relatives. More often than not, they fear being judged since depression is considered a mental disorder.
In some countries, after all, there are still folks who see it as a taboo topic. It is as if the news will taint the family’s reputation. Thus, to prevent a household meltdown, some children learn to cover up their pain by smiling and laughing with everyone.
The Sad Reality
Depression is increasingly becoming a common illness among kids. Their parents or siblings rarely realize that something’s wrong because they may either be too busy to look beyond the child’s smiles or never believe that acquiring the disorder is possible. “If your loved one is struggling with depression, you may feel confused, frustrated and distraught yourself,” said Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. Unfortunately, some folks only figure it out once they see the lifeless body of the kid.

How To Overcome Depression?
In case you have depression, you should know that you cannot rely on the people around you make it go away. What you have is a mental disorder, a condition that continues to affect your brain function. Going to a psychiatrist or psychologist for assistance may be another option, yet there are no recognized treatments to date that can cure depression.
Instead of looking anywhere else, therefore, you ought to help yourself by changing your mindset for the better. Here are the ideas that might enlighten you further.
Focus On Activities That Make You Happy
It is part of the societal norms to want to please the beloved individuals around us. As noble as that characteristic may seem, it usually leads people to feel depressed and oppressed since they have no freedom to do the things they truly enjoy. Thus, never do anything that won’t make you happy. Sherry Amatenstein, LCSW, suggested, “The moment you feel yourself sliding back to an awful memory that takes you under, take a breath and instantly conjure up graduation day. Counter the gloom with an immediate dose of positivity!”
Fear Criticism No More
Millennials often have difficulty in voicing out their ideas or following their dreams because they are afraid of being laughed at or criticized. However, you shouldn’t worry about how others will respond to your decisions. As long as you know that you’re not doing something that’s either against the law or puts lives in danger, feel free to go for it.

Take Control Of The Things That Will Affect You
Bullies have a way of getting into their victim’s head and practically making them sorry for being alive. If you strengthen your mind, though, their efforts to attack you won’t work.
Admit It When You Do Not Feel Okay
The depressed people have this ideology that they cannot show their worries to others. Well, in truth, you should do the opposite. That’s one way to let go of those problems quickly and free your thoughts.
Never Allow Failure To Define You
Failing is not a strange circumstance even for the most successful folks in various industries. How you will see it as, though, is what matters. If you let the issue derail you from your life goals, for instance, it means a total defeat on your part. In case you don’t allow it to disturb you, then it’s a recipe for an entirely different and motivational story.

Look Forward To Tomorrow
Whatever kind of problem you’re facing today – whether it involves a first heartbreak or a failed exam – it will pass soon. You may not be able to turn back the time and correct your mistakes, but you sure can learn from them and do better when a similar opportunity arises. “Remember, hope is one of the things that leaves when a person is depressed. But hope can be reignited through small successes along the way, reinvigorating the memory of better times — times that can be just around the corner as you begin to win the battle over depression,” explains Jane Framingham, Ph.D.
Good luck!