January just so happens to be the most stressful month of the year. It might be because we fill our heads with too many (or too few) resolutions, or maybe people find themselves saddened, reflecting upon the previous year which has finally come to a close. Not only is this month the most stressful, but also the leading month for suicide attempts in the United States. So, why does this happen and, more importantly, what can we do to prevent it?

These have proven to be extremely hard questions to answer, but there are scientists and doctors who spend their entire careers trying to figure out why people become deathly depressed and what makes them finally give. It’s hard to prevent depression or suicide because it’s very rare for someone who is depressed to seek help. However, there do seem to be a few ways to tell if someone’s raising the red flag. First, though, you must be able to understand why the depression itself occurs.

The explanation as to what causes depression still isn’t set in stone, but some scientists have come up with some rational speculations. A brain which functions normally sends chemically encoded messages, neurotransmitters, through billions of tiny nerve cells in the brain. When one has extreme feelings for extended periods of time- stress, anger, sadness, etc.- the brain chemicals change. This change can lead to extended, overwhelming feelings of sadness and depression.

For a white male who has other mental disorders or who has had a difficult childhood, there is a higher risk. Also, those who use drugs such as cocaine or frequently drink alcohol often suffer from fatal depression. Some studies show that compared with depressed men, women who suffer from sever depression don’t go through with suicide at near the same rate as men who ‘follow through’ with their intentions.

The saddest thing about suicide and depression is that more teenagers just like us die every year from suicide opposed to cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease combined. Depression is something that is completely treatable; that is if you’re willing to seek help. It’s not something to be ashamed about because everyone will unavoidably feel sad sometimes, but one must decide when a period of sadness has gone too far and led to depression.

If you feel sad, depressed, or just confused for any reason, the Trevor Helpline is a great place to go to for help. Currently, it’s the nation’s only free hotline which offers professional help specifically to teenagers who need help with anything from depression or suicide to sexuality, and it’s run by fully certified, extensively trained counselors. The number is 1-866-4-U-TREVOR (1-866-488-7386).