I sat and stared as people walked past me, behind me, around me, like ants.

In that moment, that brief moment I realized how sad I really was.

Lonely, really lonely.

In a room full of people and I was alone. Not on the outside, but on the inside.

Lonely, so lonely.

The feeling of immense emptiness was overwhelming in that instant. Depression.

An underrated, under talked about mental condition affecting 1:8 teens, according to kidshealth.org.

Depression is hard to deal with no matter who you are, but for teens especially.

In daily life, teens deal with many things. Everything from schedules, to homework, to relationships, to drama, to… you get the point.

Teens take on a heavy load.

Depression on top of all this can be overbearing. Depression doesn’t only affect people mentally, but physically as well.

Mental health is not taken seriously by the majority of Americans. Although, how could it not be if it affects 1:8 teens, 1:33 children, and overall nearly 17 million Americans of all ages each year?

Open your eyes; the future is depressed.

The future “see[s] no point in getting out of bed every single day,” said one senior. The future feels like their “purpose is lost.”

Physical aspects of depression are highly overlooked.

Depression can have effects on your immune system and even your heart, decrease your appetite, and increase your chance for or worsen physical conditions according to webmd.com.

Insomnia and oversleeping is also a huge issue caused by depression.

Happiness is such a simple emotion that, for some people, is incredibly hard to attain.

“It is attainable,” said the same senior.  “On days when it’s really really hard, there’s just, all I wanted to do is sit in bed and just not get up and not do anything.”

Happiness is important.

Happiness is feeling loved.

Happiness is seeing a future for yourself.

Happiness is attainable.