I think things have changed a lot in the years, Soupe, in terms of how healthcare providers identify and treat mental illness.

In the 1980s, when I was a teen, mental health just wasn't something people talked about so it's no surprise that the depression I was experiencing wasn't diagnosed.

Young people now have a greater awareness and acceptance of mental health issues. In addition, healthcare providers as well as other professionals like social workers are more aware of mental health overall and are more likely to recognize symptoms much earlier than they used to.

I'm also glad that there are forums like this where we can all get together and feel not so alone. It's nice to be among people that understand what it's like.