Some days she would come to school feeling happy. Other days it seemed she was drowning in helplessness. At first, her friends thought the girl was displaying typical teenage angst and they teased her about being so moody.
“We blamed it on stress,” said Siri Gandreddi, 17, a junior at Lambert High School in Suwanee.Gandreddi and the girl had been friends since meeting in high school. They had traveled together for competitions and developed a close friendship during the summer, but by sophomore year Gandreddi said her friend seemed different.
The teen’s erratic behavior continued for months, then it got worse. She started partying a lot. There were drugs involved. If anyone tried to help her she would break off her relationship with them. Gandreddi and her other friends struggled with what do.
“We felt like if we told her mom that she was partying , it would just backfire and make things worse. It took us a while but we realized at one point it wasn’t in our hands,” Gandreddi said.
They shared their concerns with their friend’s mom who was already worried about her daughter’s increasingly reckless behavior. After persuading her daughter to visit a psychologist, the teen was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Gandreddi and her friends are convinced that trip to the psychologist saved their friend’s life and the experience prompted them to take action.
“We started to research more and learned there are 5.7 million people in American right now who are diagnosed with (the disorder),” Gandreddi said. “We wanted to save lives and reduce the suicide rate for this disorder.”
Manic Depression Suppression is their effort to spread awareness, raise money and support individuals who are dealing with manic depression. Through the non-profit they plan to host monthly support sessions and give presentations at related events. They are also developing an app that will help suffers manage their moods.
The youth suicide rate in Georgia declined last year to 42 deaths after hitting a five year high in 2015 and 2016 with a total of 51 deaths each year, according to data from the Georgia Bureau of Investigations. Most at risk are children ages 15-17.
Related: Teen's suicide notes spark national discussion of academic pressures
Gandreddi said her friend was under a lot of pressure and had feelings of worthlessness. While many teens suffer under the weight of societal and parental expectations, both academic and social, it can be particularly tough for teens with an undiagnosed mental illness.
About 25 to 50 percent of individuals with bipolar disorder attempt suicide in their lifetimes and it is the leading cause of death among the group. Depression is a precursor to bi-polar disorder in up to one-third of the 3.4 million children and adolescents who experience depression in the U.S. but it can take up to ten years to get an accurate diagnosis, according to data from the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). Only 25 percent of individuals with bipolar disorder are correctly diagnosed within three years.
Managing the disorder is ongoing and can involve medication, peer support and more. Gandreddi and her friends hope their organization can help make a difference.
In addition to hosting support sessions and participating in events, they are developing an app specifically for individuals who suffer from manic depression.
“We are trying to relate to the person,” Gandreddi said. “Right now with technology everyone is always on their phones. Something like a book, they may not have the motivation to look at, but if they are on their phone they may click on the app and they may be more likely to get something from this form of communication.”
The free app will offer everything from inspirational quotes to playlists suited for a specific moods. There will also be a chat room where users can talk to others who can relate to how they are feeling.
To raise money, Gandreddi and her three friends have been doing presentations at various events and asking for donations as well as selling their own “homemade” t-shirts for $10.
Gandreddi said this year her friend is doing much better but she still needs support of family, friends and medical professionals. “It is a disorder that you can’t get rid of. She can handle things and control her emotions a little better but it is a long pathway,” Gandreddi said.
