Are We Making Our Kids Depressed?

I was visiting a big box retailer this morning and wandered through the book section on my way to my usual visit to electronics. Here's what caught my eye: the young adults' fiction section.

Here's how the books were lined up on the top shelf: one book featured a young girl, face down, long hair covering her face--it was a story centered around the theme of teenage alcoholism. Next book: another girl, face down, long hair obscuring her face, with the cover indicating that it was a story dealing with "teenage promiscuity." Next book: a cover photo featuring a girl with eyes cast down but short hair. This story promised to focus on "teenage bullying."

Check on this week's top 10 songs in "mainstream rock." Most of the songs deal with anger or depression--with the exception of Nickelback's new release.

Is this why kids flock to the theater to see Harry Potter vanquish evil or vampires/werewolves pledging eternal love to their teen aged girlfriends? Our movies and music seem to be lacking in some real world positive narratives for teens.