MomofJandL: I think the distinction is not clear between mental illness and depression caused by environmental pressure. Apparently, Palo Alto, being affluent and all, the assumption is that these kids have access to mental health professionals/counselors more so than other communities that are less affluent but with no frequency of suicide clusters. The profile of the kids used as examples in the article does not fit your stereotypical kid with issues - some of them are the most popular kids around with many friends, activities, great grades.
Perhaps as parents, we blur the lines further. I’m lucky my kids have a sense of humor about my tiger ways. But I have often thought, with much guilt, about the disproportionate interactions with them that are school/achievement related versus interactions that are “hey, how are you doing?” If my kids weren’t so centered or had a proclivity to mental illness, would my interactions be nudging them to the brink so to speak.
High school is hell. I have to remind myself of that all the time.