My 15 year old DD was diagnosed with depression earlier this year and more recently with anxiety. It appears to be linked to a dislike of school but she attends school regularly and there is no apparent reason. She has friends and copes academically. She is having regular therapy through CAHMS, sees a counsellor weekly at school and is on medication.
Yesterday I found a copy of her GCSE English coursework in the printer. She had written about a girl suffering from depression, who at the end takes an overdose and dies. Whilst it was beautifully written and very moving I obviously found it very upsetting. It was unclear how much of it is fictional and how much she had based on her own feelings and thoughts. In the story the mother of the girl was an alcoholic (not factual) and the father was often absent (not factual).
When she realised I had read it she was cross with me. She later apologised but she is very uncommunicative and it is difficult to talk to her about how she is feeling. I find it very difficult to understand her depression as I have no experience myself, neither does my DH. I plan to phone her therapist to discuss it with her as I am worried that it reflects the way she is feeling at the moment. I am also worried about what the teacher will think when she reads it. Whilst the school know about her depression I am sure the teacher will find it disturbing.