dear DM, I am sorry that it's been 4 days or so for you to receive any replies, because it makes the person feel as though no one cares, but this is not true, because all posts we take as being ones that need our help, so we take them seriously.
I can relate to how you are feeling, because the school I went to was a private one, and depression was frowned upon,'as no one who goes to this school doesn't ever have depression', so it wasn't recognised as an authentic illness, and always told 'to get over it'.
Education in regards to depression is well and truly neglected, and the hierarchy in charge of the subjects are too old fashioned, as their principle is to not change what has been happening for years, 'so let sleeping dogs lie', boy oh boy how wrong they are.
I'm not too sure how we can overcome this problem, but something needs to be done, or rather 'needs' is not the appropriate word here, it should be a 'must', so the education department needs a kick up the ********** just to put it lightly.
So there are a couple of ways to try and change their thinking, firstly is to obtain all the printed material from BB which can be done by clicking on 'resources' at the top of the page and order a couple of pamphlets from BB, take a photocopy if needed and present them to the headmaster, and ask him/her if they have actually experienced depression in life, either themselves, friend or family member, because two to one on it would have happened somewhere.
Tell him/her knows if any of his students does he believe has depression, and if they say no then tell him to wake up, because this would be impossible, and try and organise an Ambassador from BB to go and talk to the whole school, teachers as well, and let them know the phone numbers to contact, and suggest that the school's counsellor be taught about what this illness does, because although they are someone for the students to talk to, they definitely need a shake up.
It has to empathised that their days ahead of them will entail days of sadness, hurt and feeling of being no one to talk to, marriage trouble, job trouble and not forgetting about them when suddenly they feel nothing.
I would like to continue this, so I really hope that you can reply back to us, as well as if others want to comment on this. L Geoff. x