Depression is a psychological disorder that seriously affects not only a person's state of mind but also the physical body. It is characterized by behavioral changes such as varying intensities of sadness, feelings of hopelessness, low self-esteem and loss of interests (“A Definition of Depression”, 2007, para. 1). Depression is a serious problem among young people and the number of cases has increased in recent years. Kuabara, Van Voorhees, Gollan, and Alexander (2007) support this statement by citing that young people have “the highest cumulative incidence and prevalence of depression” and further reiterate that “the risk of depression in this age group [young people] has increased significantly over the last half century” (para. 1). This is based on the evidence found by Kessler and Walters (1998), through a survey to know the prevalence of depression among adolescents. The results showed that there is an increase in cases of depression among young people (p. 8). In Singapore, teenagers are under great pressure to juggle different aspects of their lives, including education, which may be too much to handle and thus lead to depression. I chose to write about depressed young people because I believe the severity of this problem is often overlooked and needs to be taken more seriously. This is a growing problem among young people today, affecting their mental health and well-being. My friend suffered from depression and at that time I didn't know how to help her overcome this mental illness. Therefore, I am interested in finding out more about these young people, in order to reach out and understand them better. One of the assumptions I have about depressed youth is that they are suicidal. According to The Ne...... half of the paper ......ander, GC (2007, June). A qualitative exploration of depression in emerging adulthood: Disorder, development, and social context. Direct science. Retrieved May 16, 2014, from http://www.sciencedirect.com.libwww3.np.edu.sg/science/article/pii/S016383430700 062XMark Walters (2009). The violent tendencies of depression. DIME Consultants Inc. Retrieved May 17, 2014, from http://www.dime-co.com/health/The-Violent- Tendencies-Of-Depression-_printer.shtmlSamaritans of Singapore (2010). About SOS. Retrieved May 19, 2014, from http://www.samaritans.org.sg/about.htmThe Link between Depression and Suicide (2003). Suicide. Retrieved May 17, 2014, from http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/capsules/pdf_articles/link_depression_suicide.pdfHealth Promotion Board (2013). Understanding depression. Retrieved May 18, 2014, from http://www.hpb.gov.sg/HOPPortal/health-article/10210