As someone around the same age, this problem of depression seems to have affected almost everyone I know our age at some point. It is normal to feel depressed and down, especially at this age. I don't claim to have any answers, but as my best friend is going through a similar depression episode at the very moment, the article stuck a chord with me. My only advice is just to remember your situation can be changed in a short amount of time. People tend to get stuck into routines and not realize the vast amount of freedom they actually have, especially when they are young and free to do almost anything.
Yes, you're right. Depression is more common than AIDS, cancer, and diabetes combined; and nearly 400,000 people attempt suicide in the US every single year. Those are only the cases medically documented. Depression and suicide are more prevalent in high socioeconomic environments and nations with higher quality of life. Depression is actually more likely to make you an insider than an outsider.
This author fixates on his local software developer and entrepreneur peers (depression can make it difficult to perceive interpersonal interactions objectively) but what he doesn't realize about them is that if you're lucky enough to be born in a country where you can pursue software and entrepreneurship as a teenager (especially in a world-class city full of opportunities like Boston where he lives now) you're MORE likely to be depressed or suicidal than the majority of the world's population who could only dream of having the life and access he has. They experience the same thing, and he is far from alone.
