Parents' Guide to

Life Continued: Defeating Depression

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Affecting tales of mental illness raise awareness for teens.

TV MTV Reality TV 2013
Life Continued: Defeating Depression Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

It is estimated that about half of all college students have experienced symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other mental illness at some point, and this is the obvious target demographic for Life Continued: Defeating Depression. But even though it deals with some very heavy issues, its message is essential for younger teens, too, provided they understand the gravity of what's being discussed. The best way to ensure that they get the right message is to watch the documentary with them and talk about it when it's done. Not only will you be able to reinforce what your teens are seeing, but you'll also get some insight into possible indicators of mental illness from the subjects' accounts.

Depression is a tough issue, and it's one that often gets pushed down the mental checklist as parents get caught up in seemingly more pressing concerns for their teens' safety. But Sarah and Devin's stories prove that it can be a silent killer or, at the very least, a devastating force in teens' lives. The best weapon against its power is awareness -– for both teens and their parents -– and Life Continued is an excellent tool in that arsenal.

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate