Study: Having friends can help keep depression away

By Staff Writer

A study published in the journal Development and Psychopathology revealed that children who do not have friends are more likely to develop depression.

Researchers said that long-term effects of being withdrawn could include increased levels of sadness and depression. The three-year study examined 130 girls and 101 boys in third and fifth grade. It found that having friends can disrupt the negative effects of the condition.

Symptoms of depression often include irritability, pessimism, fatigue, insomnia and thoughts of suicide. Researchers said that friendship promotes resilience and protects at-risk children from internalizing problems. Furthermore, they added that the consequences of withdrawing from social interaction during early childhood could potentially extend into adolescence.

Therapeutic boarding schools are designed to help problem teens who suffer from depression. These institutions can help promote a healthy lifestyle.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 15 million people in the U.S. suffer from major depressive disorder.