In days gone by, most children grew up feeling needed - whether they felt loved or not, they were needed by their family and community to do their part for the family and community. Now many children grow up without experiencing what it's like to be needed, and what it's like to master a simple, practical skill. And they don't have much work to do that they can see is absolutely necessary. So if a young person gets depressed, it is natural for him to feel useless and unnecessary, and there is no chore urgently waiting, to force him into action and take his mind off his misery. (Cleaning up the bedroom doesn't count).