DR. WALLACE: Please print my letter. I'm sure many do not understand that teens have a very high suicide rate because of depression.

I nearly lost my own 14-year-old daughter to suicide a couple of years ago. At the time I thought it was part of "adolescence" for teens to withdraw from their parents so they could be more independent. I thought everything was fine until she ran away.

After the turmoil of that experience there were three more suicide attempts (two in one night) and she required two stays at a pediatric psychiatric facility. It was a real "wake-up" call and we became aware of the fact that adolescent depression is not as rare as one would think.

Now I want to urge teens to speak to their parents if they are feeling even a little depressed, or if they think their emotions are just a little out of control, or if they just feel very sad. If their parents don't take this seriously or think they are just trying to get attention, the teen should go to a school counselor, relative or close family friend and keep talking until someone offers some help. The teen should not just sit around thinking it will pass, because he or she will not start feeling better without some professional help.

My daughter was suffering from biological depression and she was treated with intensive therapy, including family therapy and medication. She finished therapy and was taken off medication this past February. Thankfully, she is now back to her old self.

Please help spread the word and urge your teen readers to seek help when they are feeling depressed. — Mother, Providence, R.I.

MOTHER: The teenage years are fraught with change and disappointment and can be extremely difficult. All teens go through dizzying highs and lows as they make the transition to adulthood. Unfortunately, many get overwhelmed by the lows and become depressed, and some of them contemplate suicide. Indeed, teenagers have one of the highest rates of suicide of any age group.

Thanks for taking the time to reach out to our young readers and their parents on this urgent topic. And congratulations to you for rescuing your daughter!

IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO HAVE A HEALTHY BABY?

DR. WALLACE: I'm a 20-year-old young lady who plans to marry her 20-year-old fiance this summer. We plan to have children, but I'm concerned about them being healthy and normal. When I was 15, I started drinking heavily and really got into drugs. I smoked pot every day and took speed and acid every weekend. I stopped all of this foolishness when I turned 18, but I've heard LSD and pot have lingering bad effects.

I've worked hard to turn my life around, and I'm horrified to think the mistakes I made could prevent me from having a normal baby. My fiance is understanding and has even suggested using a surrogate mother, but I don't like that idea.

I used to think getting high was the greatest thrill on earth; now I'm heartbroken to think what drugs and alcohol have done to me. Please tell me if it's possible for me to have a normal baby. — Nameless, Sulphur, La.

NAMELESS: The greatest danger of having a deformed baby (physically and/or mentally) is when the mother drinks alcohol or takes drugs WHILE she's pregnant.

I suggest that you and your fiance speak to a physician who will answer all your questions. Your chances of having a healthy baby seem to be good since you have been straight for two years.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at rwallace@thegreatestgift.com. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Alexander Mueller