Sometimes life is a whole lot of awkward.  Kids trying to manage roller coaster feelings.  Adults still not sure if they’ve impressed or insulted the neighbors.  Bosses and employees playing a covert strategy game to be useful and still survive in the workplace.  It’s all part of life and we can’t really avoid it.

I did a presentation a few weeks ago about improving the identification of depression.  I used my own background of depression to illustrate some points, and I also dug up some statistics to go along with that.  As I was recalling my presentation, I decided it was worth bringing up here because the stats I found reflected depression across the lifespan.

I heard a public service announcement this week about cyber safety for kids and I thought that was a great idea for this week’s Around The Web.  I have two resources.  One is really loaded with other great websites to check out.  The other is a well-made longer online document that parents can read.

OK, readers.  I really need your input here.  I saw this video from Good Morning America the other day about two unschooling families.  As you might expect, GMA took a fairly critical angle to the subject.  The experts warned about the risks of this approach, yet the parents and kids seemed to feel pretty comfortable with it.

On the first night of the NFL draft, my thoughts have drifted again to role models.  So many different sports figures end up being role models to kids, whether or not it’s a good thing.  I’ll throw out a few thoughts and then I’d like your input on good sports role models you see.

Well that doesn’t sound very loving.  You mean I’m telling you I want your kids to suffer?  No, of course not. However, some level of suffering is completely unavoidable in the human existence. And it doesn’t even have to do with today’s society or technology or anything like that. It’s about learning to live well with the unavoidable suffering we all face.

Last week’s Around The Web (focused on bullying) got me thinking more about the issue of suicide.  This weeks resources will be about suicide, a tragic and final act for some people in tremendous pain.  Hopefully, you and your loved ones won’t ever face the reality of suicide.  But if you do, you’ll have some place to turn for answers and support.

When you think of depression, you might imagine someone feeling like they have hit rock-bottom. The whole world is against them and life is awful. That profile tends to describe someone who is experiencing a major depressive episode.

In light of the news about Phoebe Prince’s bullying and suicide, I’ve decided to dedicate this Around The Web to resources about bullying.

Many moms experience a short period of adjustment called the “baby blues” after they give birth. This shows up shortly after birth and usually goes away after a few days or weeks. But 15- 20% of moms across the general population develop some form of postpartum mood disorder. This could be postpartum depression, postpartum OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), or the rare postpartum psychosis.