The teen brain is in the process of maturing. In general, it's more focused on rewards and taking risks than the adult brain. At the same time, teenagers push parents for greater freedom as teens begin to explore their personality.

That can be a challenging tightrope for parents.

Teens who experiment with drugs and other substances put their health and safety at risk. The teen brain is particularly vulnerable to being rewired by substances that overload the reward circuits in the brain.

Help prevent teen drug abuse by talking to your teen about the consequences of using drugs and the importance of making healthy choices.

Why teens use or misuse drugs

Many factors can feed into teen drug use and misuse. Your teen's personality, your family's interactions and your teen's comfort with peers are some factors linked to teen drug use.

Common risk factors for teen drug abuse include:

• A family history of substance abuse.

• A mental or behavioral health condition, such as depression, anxiety or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

• Impulsive or risk-taking behavior.

• A history of traumatic events, such as seeing or being in a car accident or experiencing abuse.

• Low self-esteem or feelings of social rejection.

• Teens may be more likely to try substances for the first time when hanging out in a social setting.

Alcohol and nicotine or tobacco may be some of the first, easier-to-get substances for teens. Because alcohol and nicotine or tobacco are legal for adults, these can seem safer to try even though they aren't safe for teens.

Teens generally want to fit in with peers. So if their friends use substances, your teen might feel like they need to as well. Teens also may also use substances to feel more confident with peers.

If those friends are older, teens can find themselves in situations that are riskier than they're used to. For example, they may not have adults present or younger teens may be relying on peers for transportation.

And if they are lonely or dealing with stress, teens may use substances to distract from these feelings.

Also, teens may try substances because they are curious. They may try a substance as a way to rebel or challenge family rules.

Some teens may feel like nothing bad could happen to them, and may not be able to understand the consequences of their actions.

Consequences of teen drug abuse

Negative consequences of teen drug abuse might include:

• Drug dependence. Some teens who misuse drugs are at increased risk of substance use disorder.

• Poor judgment. Teenage drug use is associated with poor judgment in social and personal interactions.

• Sexual activity. Drug use is associated with high-risk sexual activity, unsafe sex and unplanned pregnancy.

• Mental health disorders. Drug use can complicate or increase the risk of mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety.

• Impaired driving. Driving under the influence of any drug affects driving skills. It puts the driver, passengers and others on the road at risk.

• Changes in school performance. Substance use can result in worse grades, attendance or experience in school.

Consider other strategies to prevent teen drug abuse:

• Know your teen's activities. Pay attention to your teen's whereabouts. Find out what adult-supervised activities your teen is interested in and encourage your teen to get involved.

• Establish rules and consequences. Explain your family rules, such as leaving a party where drug use occurs and not riding in a car with a driver who's been using drugs. Work with your teen to figure out a plan to get home safely if the person who drove is using substances. If your teen breaks the rules, consistently enforce consequences.

• Know your teen's friends. If your teen's friends use drugs, your teen might feel pressure to experiment, too.

• Keep track of prescription drugs. Take an inventory of all prescription and over-the-counter medications in your home.

• Provide support. Offer praise and encouragement when your teen succeeds. A strong bond between you and your teen might help prevent your teen from using drugs.

• Set a good example. If you drink, do so in moderation. Use prescription drugs as directed. Don't use illicit drugs.

Recognizing the warning signs of teen drug abuse

Be aware of possible red flags, such as:

• Sudden or extreme change in friends, eating habits, sleeping patterns, physical appearance, requests for money, coordination or school performance.

• Irresponsible behavior, poor judgment and general lack of interest.

• Breaking rules or withdrawing from the family.

• The presence of medicine containers, despite a lack of illness, or drug paraphernalia in your teen's room.

• Seeking help for teen drug abuse

If you suspect or know that your teen is experimenting with or misusing drugs:

• Plan your action. Finding out your teen is using drugs or suspecting it can bring up strong emotions. Before talking to your teen, make sure you and anyone who shares caregiving responsibility for the teen is ready. It can help to have a goal for the conversation. It can also help to figure out how you'll respond to the different ways your teen might react.

• Talk to your teen. You can never step in too early. Casual drug use can turn into too much use or addiction. This can lead to accidents, legal trouble and health problems.

• Encourage honesty. Speak calmly and express that you are coming from a place of concern. Share specific details to back up your suspicion. Verify any claims your child makes.

• Focus on the behavior, not the person. Emphasize that drug use is dangerous but that doesn't mean your teen is a bad person.

• Check in regularly. Spend more time with your teen. Know your teen's whereabouts and ask questions about the outing when your teen returns home.

• Get professional help. If you think your teen is involved in drug use, contact a health care provider or counselor for help.

It's never too soon to start talking to your teen about drug abuse. The conversations you have today can help your teen make healthy choices in the future.

(Mayo Clinic, 2023)

What is anxiety?
Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. Many people worry about things such as health, money, or family problems. But anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry or fear. For people with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. The symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, schoolwork, and relationships.

There are several types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and various phobia-related disorders.

What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety?
Generalized anxiety disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) usually involves a persistent feeling of anxiety or dread, which can interfere with daily life. It is not the same as occasionally worrying about things or experiencing anxiety due to stressful life events. People living with GAD experience frequent anxiety for months, if not years.

Symptoms of GAD include:

• Feeling restless, wound-up, or on-edge

• Being easily fatigued

• Having difficulty concentrating

• Being irritable

• Having headaches, muscle aches, stomachaches, or unexplained pains

• Difficulty controlling feelings of worry

• Having sleep problems, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep

Panic disorder
People with panic disorder have frequent and unexpected panic attacks. Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear, discomfort, or sense of losing control even when there is no clear danger or trigger. Not everyone who experiences a panic attack will develop panic disorder.

During a panic attack, a person may experience:

• Pounding or racing heart

• Sweating

• Trembling or tingling

• Chest pain

• Feelings of impending doom

• Feelings of being out of control

People with panic disorder often worry about when the next attack will happen and actively try to prevent future attacks by avoiding places, situations, or behaviors they associate with panic attacks. Panic attacks can occur as frequently as several times a day or as rarely as a few times a year.

Social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder is an intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others. For people with social anxiety disorder, the fear of social situations may feel so intense that it seems beyond their control. For some people, this fear may get in the way of going to work, attending school, or doing everyday things.

People with social anxiety disorder may experience:

• Blushing, sweating, or trembling

• Pounding or racing heart

• Stomachaches

• Rigid body posture or speaking with an overly soft voice

• Difficulty making eye contact or being around people they don’t know

• Feelings of self-consciousness or fear that people will judge them negatively

What are the risk factors for anxiety?
Researchers are finding that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the risk of developing an anxiety disorder.

The risk factors for each type of anxiety disorder vary. However, some general risk factors include:

• Shyness or feeling distressed or nervous in new situations in childhood

• Exposure to stressful and negative life or environmental events

• A history of anxiety or other mental disorders in biological relatives

Anxiety symptoms can be produced or aggravated by:

• Some physical health conditions, such as thyroid problems or heart arrhythmia

• Caffeine or other substances/medications

If you think you may have an anxiety disorder, getting a physical examination from a health care provider may help them diagnose your symptoms and find the right treatment.

(NIH, 2024)

Definition of Bullying

In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Department of Education released the first federal definition of bullying. The definition includes three core elements: 

• unwanted aggressive behavior

• observed or perceived power imbalance

• repetition or high likelihood of repetition of bullying behaviors

What We’ve Learned about Bullying

Bullying affects all youth, including those who are bullied, those who bully others, and those who witness bullying. The effects of bullying may continue into adulthood.

There is not a single profile of a young person involved in bullying. Youth who bully can be either well connected socially or marginalized, and may be bullied by others as well. Similarly, those who are bullied sometimes bully others.

Solutions to bullying are not simple. Bullying prevention approaches that show the most promise confront the problem from many angles. They involve the entire school community—students, families, administrators, teachers, and staff such as bus drivers, nurses, cafeteria and front office staff—in creating a culture of respect. Zero tolerance and expulsion are not effective approaches.

Bystanders, or those who see bullying, can make a huge difference when they intervene on behalf of someone being bullied.

Studies also have shown that adults can help prevent bullying by talking to children about bullying, encouraging them to do what they love, modeling kindness and respect, and seeking help.

Types of Bullying

Students ages 12-18  experienced  various types of bullying, including:

• Being the subject of rumors or lies (13.4%)

• Being made fun of, called names, or insulted (13.0%)

• Pushed, shoved, tripped, or spit on (5.3%)

• Leaving out/exclusion (5.2%)

• Threatened with harm (3.9%)

• Others tried to make them do things they did not want to do (1.9%)

• Property was destroyed on purpose (1.4%) (Stop Bullying, 2021)

I might be being bullied

SPEAK UP: If you feel uncomfortable with the comments or actions of someone… tell someone! It is better to let a trusted adult know, than to let the problem continue. Submit a safety report here.

Get familiar with what bullying is and what it is not. If you recognize any of the descriptions, you should stay calm, stay respectful, and tell an adult as soon as possible.

If you feel like you are at risk of harming yourself or others get help now!

I did something I regret and my friends won’t talk to me anymore. What can I do?

If possible, try to speak privately with each of them to offer an apology.

Acknowledge that what you said or did offended or hurt them.

Explain that you are trying to learn from your mistake and ask if they will help you understand how it made them feel.

Someone I know said something that really offended me and my friends. I want to call them out. What should I do?

If someone you know said something that hurt you, talk to them privately. Tell them how their words or actions made you feel.

Try to learn more about what was behind their words before judging or blaming them. Talk it out. Listen.

Agree together to have an open conversation and learn from each other so you can both move on from the incident without causing more harm.

If the person continues to be offensive, walk away and don’t engage with their behavior.

My friends want to give the “silent treatment” to another student because of something they said, and they want me to join in. What should I do?

Don’t participate in public or online shaming. You don’t need to make a public comment about it.

Speak to your friends and explain why you don’t want to do it. For example, you could say, “I disagree with them, but I don’t want to bully anyone.” You can also encourage your friends not to do it.

(Stop Bullying, 2022)

Who gets depression?

Depression can affect people of all ages, races, ethnicities, and genders.

Women are diagnosed with depression more often than men, but men can also be depressed. Because men may be less likely to recognize, talk about, and seek help for their feelings or emotional problems, they are at greater risk of their depression symptoms being undiagnosed or undertreated.

Studies also show higher rates of depression and an increased risk for the disorder among members of the LGBTQI+ community.

What are the signs and symptoms of depression?
If you have been experiencing some of the following signs and symptoms, most of the day, nearly every day, for at least 2 weeks, you may have depression:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood

• Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism

• Feelings of irritability, frustration, or restlessness

• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness

• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities

• Fatigue, lack of energy, or feeling slowed down

• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions

• Difficulty sleeping, waking too early in the morning, or oversleeping

• Changes in appetite or unplanned weight changes

• Physical aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause that do not go away with treatment

• Thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts

Not everyone who is depressed experiences all these symptoms. Some people experience only a few symptoms, while others experience many. Symptoms associated with depression interfere with day-to-day functioning and cause significant distress for the person experiencing them.

Depression can also involve other changes in mood or behavior that include:

• Increased anger or irritability

• Feeling restless or on edge

• Becoming withdrawn, negative, or detached

• Increased engagement in high-risk activities

• Greater impulsivity

• Increased use of alcohol or drugs

• Isolating from family and friends

• Inability to meet the responsibilities of work and family or ignoring other important roles

• Problems with sexual desire and performance

Depression can look different in men and women. Although people of all genders can feel depressed, how they express those symptoms and the behaviors they use to cope with them may differ. For example, men (as well as women) may show symptoms other than sadness, instead seeming angry or irritable. And although increased use of alcohol or drugs can be a sign of depression in anyone, men are more likely to use these substances as a coping strategy.

In some cases, mental health symptoms appear as physical problems (for example, a racing heart, tightened chest, ongoing headaches, or digestive issues). Men are often more likely to see a health care provider about these physical symptoms than their emotional ones.

Because depression tends to make people think more negatively about themselves and the world, some people may also have thoughts of suicide or self-harm.

Several persistent symptoms, in addition to low mood, are required for a diagnosis of depression, but people with only a few symptoms may benefit from treatment. The severity and frequency of symptoms and how long they last will vary depending on the person, the illness, and the stage of the illness.

If you experience signs or symptoms of depression and they persist or do not go away, talk to a health care provider. If you see signs or symptoms of depression in someone you know, encourage them to seek help from a mental health professional.

What are the risk factors for depression?

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. Research suggests that genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors play a role in depression.

Risk factors for depression can include:

• Personal or family history of depression

• Major negative life changes, trauma, or stress

Depression can happen at any age, but it often begins in adulthood. Depression is now recognized as occurring in children and adolescents, although children may express more irritability or anxiety than sadness. Many chronic mood and anxiety disorders in adults begin as high levels of anxiety in childhood.

If you are experiencing a crisis or thoughts of suicide, please contact 988 immediately.

(NIH, 2024)

What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are serious, biologically influenced medical illnesses marked by severe disturbances to one’s eating behaviors. Although many people may be concerned about their health, weight, or appearance from time to time, some people become fixated or obsessed with weight loss, body weight or shape, and controlling their food intake. These may be signs of an eating disorder.

Eating disorders are not a choice. These disorders can affect a person’s physical and mental health. In some cases, they can be life-threatening. With treatment, however, people can recover completely from eating disorders.

Who is at risk for eating disorders?

Eating disorders can affect people of all ages, racial and ethnic backgrounds, body weights, and genders. Even people who appear healthy, such as athletes, can have eating disorders and be extremely ill. People with eating disorders can be underweight, normal weight, or overweight. In other words, you can’t tell if someone has an eating disorder by looking at them.

The exact cause of eating disorders is not fully understood.  Research suggests a combination of genetic, biological, behavioral, psychological, and social factors can raise a person’s risk. 

What are the common types of eating disorders?

Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder. Each of these disorders is associated with different but sometimes overlapping symptoms. People exhibiting any combination of these symptoms may have an eating disorder and should be evaluated by a health care provider.

(NIH, 2021)

What Is LGBTQIA+?

LGBTQIA+ is an abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more. These terms are used to describe a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.

Sexual orientation

An inherent or immutable enduring emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to other people. Note: an individual’s sexual orientation is independent of their gender identity.

Gender identity

One's innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither – how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One's gender identity can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth.

Gender expression

External appearance of one's gender identity, usually expressed through behavior, clothing, body characteristics or voice, and which may or may not conform to socially defined behaviors and characteristics typically associated with being either masculine or feminine.

Transgender

An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth. Being transgender does not imply any specific sexual orientation. Therefore, transgender people may identify as straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc.

Gender transition

The process by which some people strive to more closely align their internal knowledge of gender with its outward appearance. Some people socially transition, whereby they might begin dressing, using names and pronouns and/or be socially recognized as another gender. Others undergo physical transitions in which they modify their bodies through medical interventions.

Gender dysphoria

Clinically significant distress caused when a person's assigned birth gender is not the same as the one with which they identify.

(Human Rights Campaign)

Additional LGBT+ educational resources can be found at The Trevor Project

ABC's At-Risk Youth Achievement Program

ABC Unified School District offers additional educational services and supports to our at-risk students. Some of these supports may include, but are not limited to:

• Transportation assistance

• Enrollment assistance

• Hygiene Kits

• Tutoring

• Fee waivers

• Counseling support

• Backpacks and other school supplies

• Help with graduation requirements

• Access to higher education (college supports)

McKinney-Vento Act

All school-aged children are entitled to the same free and appropriate public education (FAPE). Schools are required to remove barriers to enrollment, attendance, and academic success of at-risk youth.

Homeless Youth
A "homeless" student is defined as one between 0-22 years of age who lacks fixed, adequate, and regular night time residence. Some situations may include:

• Sharing housing with another family due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasons

• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds

• Living in emergency or transitional shelters

• Awaiting foster care placement

• Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live

• Living in a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, or similar setting

• Abandoned or runaway youth

ABC Unified's Homeless Youth Program

Foster Youth
A "foster" student is defined as any child who is subject of a juvenile delinquency court petition and has been removed from his/her home by the court and placed into foster care under a "suitable placement" order. This includes youth who have been placed in foster homes, group homes, or a relatives home.

Also check out the attachment on this page for USC's tele-health flyer that offers free counseling services to foster youth and families.

ABC Unified's Foster Youth Program

There are numerous legal requirements that a school and school district must take to ensure equal opportunity for homeless and foster youth.

Please see a member of the student support team if you have concerns about housing or think you may qualify for the At-Risk Youth Achievement Program.

Additional Resources

The Whole Child (562) 692-0383

• An agency that can support families with housing assistance. Family must be referred and an appointment must be made.

CASA Youth Shelter (800) 914-2272

• An short-term emergency that takes in youth ages 12-17 that are homeless or in crisis. The goal of CASA Youth Shelter is family reunification. Located in Los Alamitos and Huntington Beach. An intake process is mandatory.

Cal Fresh (866) 613-3777

• Food stamps for low-income families

Cerritos College - Foster & Kinship Care (562) 860-2451

• Free parenting classes and workshops for foster parents, caretakers, relatives, and foster teens. Classes are offered during the day, evenings, and on Saturdays. Call for more information.

Nonsuicidal self-injury, often simply called self-injury, is the act of harming your own body on purpose, such as by cutting or burning yourself. It's usually not meant as a suicide attempt. This type of self-injury is a harmful way to cope with emotional pain, sadness, anger and stress.

While self-injury may bring a brief sense of calm and a release of physical and emotional tension, it's usually followed by guilt and shame and the return of painful emotions. Life-threatening injuries are usually not intended, but it's possible that more-serious and even fatal self-harm could happen.

Getting the proper treatment can help you learn healthier ways to cope.

Forms of self-injury
Self-injury mostly happens in private. Usually, it's done in a controlled manner or the same way each time, which often leaves a pattern on the skin. Examples of self-harm include:

• Cutting, scratching or stabbing with a sharp object, one of the most common methods.

• Burning with lit matches, cigarettes or heated, sharp objects such as knives.

• Carving words or symbols on the skin.

• Self-hitting, punching, biting or head banging.

• Piercing the skin with sharp objects.

• Inserting objects under the skin.

Most frequently, the arms, legs, chest and belly are the targets of self-injury. But any area of the body may be a target, sometimes using more than one method.

Becoming upset can trigger urges to self-injure. Many people self-injure only a few times and then stop. But for others, self-injury can become a longer term, repeated behavior.

Causes

There's no one single or simple cause that leads someone to self-injure. In general, self-injury may result from:

• Poor coping skills. Nonsuicidal self-injury is usually the result of an inability to cope in healthy ways with stress and emotional pain.

• Difficulty managing emotions. Having a hard time controlling, expressing or understanding emotions may lead to self-injury. The mix of emotions that triggers self-injury is complex. For example, there may be feelings of worthlessness, loneliness, panic, anger, guilt, rejection and self-hatred. Being bullied or having questions about sexual identity may be part of the mix of emotions.

Self-injury may be an attempt to:

• Manage or reduce severe distress or anxiety and provide a sense of relief.

• Provide a distraction from painful emotions through physical pain.

• Feel a sense of control over the body, feelings or life situations.

• Feel something — anything — even if it's physical pain, when feeling emotionally empty.

• Express internal feelings in an external way.

• Communicate feelings of stress or depression to the outside world.

• Punish oneself.

Prevention

There is no sure way to prevent someone's self-injuring behavior. But reducing the risk of self-injury includes strategies that involve both individuals and communities. Parents, family members, teachers, school nurses, coaches or friends can help.

• Identify someone at risk and offer help. Someone at risk can be taught how to better manage stress and deal with life's problems. The person can learn healthy coping skills to use during periods of distress.

• Encourage supportive social networks. Feeling lonely and disconnected may be a part of self-injury. Helping someone form healthy connections to people who don't self-injure can improve relationship and communication skills.

• Raise awareness. Learn about the warning signs of self-injury and what to do when you suspect it.

• Encourage friends to seek help. Peers tend to be loyal to their friends. Encourage children, teens and young adults to avoid secrecy and reach out for help if they have a concern about a friend or family member.

• Talk about media influence. News media, music and other highly visible outlets that feature self-injury may nudge children and young adults with mental or emotional issues to experiment. Teaching children critical thinking skills about the influences around them might reduce the harmful impact.

(Mayo Clinic, 2023)

Suicide, taking your own life, is a tragic reaction to stressful life situations — and all the more tragic because suicide can be prevented. Whether you're considering suicide or know someone who feels suicidal, learn suicide warning signs and how to reach out for immediate help and professional treatment. You may save a life — your own or someone else's.

It may seem like there's no way to solve your problems and that suicide is the only way to end the pain. But you can take steps to stay safe — and start enjoying your life again.

For immediate help

If you're feeling overwhelmed by thoughts of not wanting to live or you're having urges to attempt suicide, get help now.

• Call a suicide hotline by calling or texting 988, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Or use the Lifeline Chat at 988lifeline.org/chat/. Services are free and confidential.

• Call 911 in the U.S. or your local emergency number immediately.

Symptoms

Suicide warning signs or suicidal thoughts include:

• Talking about suicide — for example, making statements such as "I'm going to kill myself," "I wish I were dead" or "I wish I hadn't been born"

• Getting the means to take your own life, such as buying a gun or stockpiling pills

• Withdrawing from social contact and wanting to be left alone

• Having mood swings, such as being emotionally high one day and deeply discouraged the next

• Being preoccupied with death, dying or violence

• Feeling trapped or hopeless about a situation

• Increasing use of alcohol or drugs

• Changing normal routine, including eating or sleeping patterns

• Doing risky or self-destructive things, such as using drugs or driving recklessly

• Giving away belongings or getting affairs in order when there's no other logical explanation for doing this

• Saying goodbye to people as if they won't be seen again

• Developing personality changes or being severely anxious or agitated, particularly when experiencing some of the warning signs listed above

Warning signs aren't always obvious, and they may vary from person to person. Some people make their intentions clear, while others keep suicidal thoughts and feelings secret.

Children and teenagers

Suicide in children and teenagers can follow stressful life events. What a young person sees as serious and insurmountable may seem minor to an adult — such as problems in school or the loss of a friendship. In some cases, a child or teen may feel suicidal due to certain life circumstances that he or she may not want to talk about, such as:

• Having a psychiatric disorder, including depression

• Loss or conflict with close friends or family members

• History of physical or sexual abuse

• Problems with alcohol or drugs

• Physical or medical issues, for example, becoming pregnant or having a sexually transmitted infection

• Being the victim of bullying

• Being uncertain of sexual orientation

• Reading or hearing an account of suicide or knowing a peer who died by suicide

• Prevention

To help keep yourself from feeling suicidal:

Get the treatment you need. If you don't treat the underlying cause, your suicidal thoughts are likely to return. You may feel embarrassed to seek treatment for mental health problems, but getting the right treatment for depression, substance misuse or another underlying problem will make you feel better about life — and help keep you safe.

Establish your support network. It may be hard to talk about suicidal feelings, and your friends and family may not fully understand why you feel the way you do. Reach out anyway, and make sure the people who care about you know what's going on and are there when you need them. You may also want to get help from your place of worship, support groups or other community resources. Feeling connected and supported can help reduce suicide risk.

Remember, suicidal feelings are temporary. If you feel hopeless or that life's not worth living anymore, remember that treatment can help you regain your perspective — and life will get better. Take one step at a time and don't act impulsively.

(Mayo Clinic, 2022)