Picture yourself in a big pool. Deep, wide, full. Now imagine it’s packed full of busy bustling people, talking, swimming, playing. Now, you’re right in the middle, and you don’t know how to swim. With all the people around you, no one offers to help you or teach you how.

Since entering high school, sophomore Riley LaRue has felt depressed, and this is how she describes it. As a result of her depression, LaRue said it’s hard to keep her grades up and maintain her attendance at school.

“Sometimes you don’t want to be here,” she said.

LaRue sees a counselor outside of school as opposed to one of the high school counselors.

“I think there’s something with being in school… It doesn’t let you open up as much,” she said.

But with all the support from her parents and therapist, her depression has gotten easier to deal with. “I waited a full year before telling my parents how bad things were and asking for help. It was really difficult to ask because I thought my parents would think it was their fault, but they were really understanding and only wanted the best for me,” LaRue said. “They always give me space if I’m feeling down, and are always willing to listen,”

LaRue also said her depression is a matter of who she lets into her life; she has cut out a lot unsupportive people and negative inputs from her life.

“I surround myself with people that make me laugh and do things that bring me joy, so I don’t have to think about the dark parts,” she said.

LaRue said she finds herself talking about her depression to her peer group the most, rather than adults because, “they understand the stress” from being in high school. When she first started talking to her counselor, LaRue said it was awkward talking to a stranger about something so personal, but after a while it became easier.

LaRue doesn’t think she’s alone with her depression. “I think a lot of people have felt or gone through what I feel, which is sad,” she said. “Even when I feel alone I know I’m not.”

Having depression, LaRue has seen many misconceptions about how it really is. “You can’t control it, and people don’t understand it,” she said. “One time I told someone I was really sad and just didn’t want to do anything, and they just started listing off all the things I should be grateful for, making me sound ungrateful, and it was so overwhelming I had an anxiety attack. People can have a wonderful home life and hobbies and what not and still feel depressed.”

Check back tomorrow for part four of our reporting.
Click here to read part one: Depression, suicide on the rise, survey says.
Click here to read part two: Inside the WHS counseling office on depression, suicide.