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Beneath The Surface
Every day, 5,420 teens grades 7 through 12 attempt suicide.
If that number scares you, it should. While growing up has never been easy, today’s teens face a landscape that might be unrecognizable to their parents. In addition to cliques and peer pressure they live in a fast-changing social media world — Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook — that exposes and makes vulnerable as much as it shares and connects. Factor in high school and mass shootings, terrorism, daily reports about climate change, and the prospect of life-changing college loan debt and it’s no wonder that rates of teen depression, anxiety, and, tragically, suicide are soaring.
 
My newest book, Beneath the Surface, speaks candidly to teens about depression, suicide and the issues they face every day. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death in young people aged 10 to 24, and the vast majority of suicides are completed by people struggling with depression or other mental illnesses.  
 
The issues covered, including depression, eating disorders, PTSD, anxiety, and substance abuse, are accompanied by the stories of real teens who have experienced and come through these challenges. Testimonials from teens who have been depressed, attempted suicide, and survived highlight ways that kids can recognize danger signs in their own lives, help a friend in trouble, and find nonjudgmental, empathic help. 

As a fellow survivor of grief and trauma, it is my passion to to show the hopeless that there is hope, the lonely that they aren’t alone, and that life can be much, much easier than seems possible in moments of crisis.

Kevin Fisher

Columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle
“Beneath the Surface is critical to any parent, whether or not the parent realizes it. As a man who never took one psychology course, I appreciated that Kristi Hugstad wrote about a serious topic in a way that I could embrace and learn. This book not only changed my life, it changed the life of my child.” — Kevin Thaddeus Fisher-Paulson 
https://www.sfchronicle.com/author/kevin-fisher-paulson/

Nadine Levinson

DDS, Clinical Professor Psychiatry, UCI School of Medicine; Training and Supervising Psychoanalyst, San Diego Psychoanalytic Center
“Beneath the Surface” is a well written outreach to mainly adolescents, but frankly anyone seeking to help a family member or friend suffering with depression and suicidal ideation. Kristi Hugstad struggles to come to grips with her own riveting experience of losing a husband who successfully suicided, despite her best efforts. Hugstad weaves science, psychology and social connections by describing the poignant stories of the adolescents suffering from depression. The book describes groupings of common clinical manifestations of depression to provide a guidepost to assist teenagers and others coming into contact with adolescents with malignant suicidal ideation. She provides scientific knowledge and her own experience in order to develop awareness and tools for dealing with deep depression and high-risk suicide. A great read and clinically relevant and helpful. 
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Regina Louise

author of Somebody’s Someone​ 
From exploring the addictive affects of excessive video gaming, to the warning signs of alcohol and drug abuse, Kristi Hugstad leaves no stone unturned in her quest to raze the stigma of depression. She does so in a way that is effective, accessible, and highly informative. A must-read for anyone wanting permission to help themselves, or a friend. This book reads as though it’s reaching out to grab you, and hold you in your time of need.

William Meyer

author of Three Breaths and Begin
“Each year as a high school teacher, I see more and more students struggling with depression, anxiety, and overwhelming stress. Beneath the Surface is a powerful work that uncovers the growing epidemic of pressures facing adolescents today and offers the tools necessary to help students navigate these pressures directly. Kristi Hugstad’s writing eloquently and accessibly captures the depth of these issues through her own story as well as the stories of others. When you find yourself wondering what you can do, or you have a student who is struggling, here is a book that can help. It is a starting point for a conversation that just might save someone’s life.”
HAVE THE GRIEF GIRL SPEAK TO YOUR SCHOOL
Kristi Hugstad visits local high schools each semester to START A CONVERSATION with the students. Through a visually stunning powerpoint, Kristi works through the warning signs and risk factors of depression and suicide. Sharing her tragic story of her own experience, Kristi involves the students to points point out the warning signs she missed. This interactive conversation gets the students to ask questions they may not have felt comfortable to ask and get the help some of them so desperately need. 
​Kristi Hugstad’s presentation to the Health students at Dana Hills High School was very moving and informative.  She brought her first hand expertise and personal insight when living with a person who is experiencing the ill-effects of substance-related disorders, specifically steroid use.  Her story demonstrates the importance of recognizing the signs of mental illness; including paranoia, depression and suicide. Kristi’s natural ability to interact and connect with high school students was inspiring to witness.  Her catch phrase and the title of her book “R U OK?”, captures the essence of her message.  Our Health students were captivated with her story and many students expressed that her message was heard loud and clear. Thank you Kristi, for sharing such a painful event, and turning this personal tragedy into a lesson to be remembered.
Jeanette Boyle | DHHS Health Educator, Dana Point, CA
​"I wanted to reach out to thank for everything you do to help our teens.  Coming to speak to our students at San Clemente High School about it being ok to not be ok.  That there is SO much hope and help.  Powerful message for those feeling scared of whats in their head.  You are making a difference!  Thank you for all you do! " 
Angie Tisdale  - San Clemente High School Health

Where To Go For Help

​If you or your teen needs more information, resources or immediate help, please know it’s available! The following toll-free hotlines are available to help 24/7:

Teenline (This is a crisis hotline for teens to talk to other teens): 800-TLC-TEEN

AFSP American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: 
800-273-TALK(8255)
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Trevor Lifeline (Crisis line for LGBTQ youth): 866-488-7386

Bullying Hotline: 800-273-8255

National Eating Disorder Association: 800-931-2237
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National Alcohol and Drug Abuse Hotline: 877-437-8422