What's With All The Suicides?

rgp said:
IMO, that covers allot of our 'problems'? today. I believe that it started years back with the invention / proliferation of A/C...Used to be that folks gathered & socialized on their stoops , or in their backyards in nice weather. That led to 5-6 months or of socializing . Then the comfort of A/C drew them inside...so we now have the occasional "high neighbor" ....that's it!

I know of folks right here where I live that have said, hell, I didn't even know that so & so / this & or that family had moved.

I remember when i was a kid, if someone left the street, all the women stood around on move day & 'boo-hoo'd ' about how much they'll miss ?? And the men all stood around drinking beer sayin'...man we're going to miss ya, etc, stay in touch, etc & so-on .

Now ? IMO...that's a thing of the past.
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Yeah, it does seem a thing of the past. Nowdays most people hardly know their neighbors.
 

"The third was a man who had had severe depression and other mental problems for years and had become increasingly erratic; he had had all kinds of treatment but nothing worked. He had refused hospitalization and wasn't seen by doctors as bad enough to hospitalize involuntarily."


As cold as it sounds, I'd almost rather a person take their own life ...THEIR OWN CHOICE / DECISION...than to be forcibly hospitalized.
 
Only "Knew" one person that took his own life.....after witnessing his sister go through a horrible disease , and himself being diagnosed with same...He ended his own life. This was a very level headed, pragmatic , caring man. The wold lost a good person. I will not sit in judgement of his decision / choice.....I'll only say that I wish modern medicine could do better.
 

rgp said:
IMO, that covers allot of our 'problems'? today. I believe that it started years back with the invention / proliferation of A/C...Used to be that folks gathered & socialized on their stoops , or in their backyards in nice weather. That led to 5-6 months or of socializing . Then the comfort of A/C drew them inside...so we now have the occasional "high neighbor" ....that's it!

I know of folks right here where I live that have said, hell, I didn't even know that so & so / this & or that family had moved.








I remember when i was a kid, if someone left the street, all the women stood around on move day & 'boo-hoo'd ' about how much they'll miss ?? And the men all stood around drinking beer sayin'...man we're going to miss ya, etc, stay in touch, etc & so-on .

Now ? IMO...that's a thing of the past.
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How true, rgp.

I think I need to go find Walton's mountain and move in with The Walton's family.......friendly, down-to-earth country people, live in the beautiful mountains, small town, know your neighbors & everyone in town, never be lonely livings with all the siblings, grandparents, where people genuinely cared about one another, A/C, no electronics......ok, where is this mountain again?:)
 
The number of suicides of veterans is through the roof and is more frustrating than these celebrity deaths. Not only have they been to hell and back they don't have the financial resources to get help and improve their condition. These celebrities do. Their passing is sad but should not take the spotlight away from veterans in trouble and/or committing suicide.
 
It's odd that I see suicide as a tragic end to other peoples lives and a perfectly acceptable end to mine.

I'm very much in favor of assisted suicide for the old and infirm but it is so very sad to see a young person commit suicide over a relatively trivial issue that could easily be resolved by the adults around them.
 

It is the baby boomer group where we see the highest rates of suicide,” said the C.D.C.’s deputy director, Ileana Arias.

The Baby Boomer aspect of this may be the most important part. There are so many baby boomers compared to the rest of the population that anything they do has an enormous impact on the
statistics.
 
So often we are in the dark about other people’s pain. Not everyone telegraphs their anguish, some are able to don an amiable mask which fools everyone. I lost a dear friend under such circumstances. For years, I asked myself if I missed the signs, could I perhaps have helped them? Finally, I accepted that their ability to disguise their emotions was better than my ability to sense

them. In Canada, the group most at risk is not the baby boomer generation, but 17 to 24 year olds. Some are reacting to trauma, others relationship issues, still others mental illness, frequently undiagnosed. Many self medicate with alcohol and other drugs, which only serves to exacerbate the problem.
 
WhatInThe said:
The number of suicides of veterans is through the roof and is more frustrating than these celebrity deaths. Not only have they been to hell and back they don't have the financial resources to get help and improve their condition. These celebrities do. Their passing is sad but should not take the spotlight away from veterans in trouble and/or committing suicide.
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I was thinking something similar...perhaps a bit more harsh?

But my compassion just isn't 'up-there' for celebs, near what it is for vets, and even regular folk. It comes much slower & at a lower level for those that have everything ....and still can't cope. And they have the means to seek the best of help, doctor, resort/spa , & so-on.

Vets & most others may not,likely not. As such many are truly at the dead end of a dark situation to which they find no other relief.

Hell in the case of Bourdain for example....One phone call & Ol' Dr Phil himself would have come a runnin' {WE} don't even have his number.
 
Aunt Bea said:
It's odd that I see suicide as a tragic end to other peoples lives and a perfectly acceptable end to mine.

I'm very much in favor of assisted suicide for the old and infirm but it is so very sad to see a young person commit suicide over a relatively trivial issue that could easily be resolved by the adults around them.
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Agree completely.......

As for...."It's odd that I see suicide as a tragic end to other peoples lives and a perfectly acceptable end to mine."

I think the difference is?...in most cases sensible compassionate people want to help. So we wonder could someone, perhaps even myself have helped this person?

But , again sensible / rational people may think things through completely for themselves . And still arrive at that same decision for their situation?....just a thought.
 
rgp said:
Not to make light of a tragic issue but ........odd that Nevada , the land of casinos & whore houses is the only one with a decrease .......hummmm.
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Maybe because they hide their feelings & pain in gambling, sex & other vices......so as to not deal with reality.
 
CindyLouWho said:
Maybe because they hide their feelings & pain in gambling, sex & other vices......so as to not deal with reality.
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Ahhhhhh Ya took all the fun outta that :)...But, on the serious side, ya might just be on to something.

I actually stopped in one of the 'ranches' years ago. I went in , had the $10.00 coke at the bar..& just 'girl-watched' :)....didn't really want alcohol , mid afternoon riding a motorcycle in the desert heat. I'm no prude but just not the place for me.

Never was a gambler...so the casino's hold no lure for me either.

And just in case you [guys] are wondering?....Yes the girls were pretty....have to say , I was sort of surprised.
 
Mental illness can be insidious, particularly chronic depression. Meds don’t work for everyone, and sometimes, in spite of all the self discipline in the world, the disease wins. Perhaps under those circumstances, it is amazing the person lasted as long as they did.
 
Aunt Bea said:
It's odd that I see suicide as a tragic end to other peoples lives and a perfectly acceptable end to mine.

I'm very much in favor of assisted suicide for the old and infirm but it is so very sad to see a young person commit suicide over a relatively trivial issue that could easily be resolved by the adults around them.
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I agree with you, Aunt Bea. I see a huge difference between those who choose ending their own lives as an alternative to a horrific death from a disease and those who, seemingly of sound mind and body just up and take their own lives.

I am not even sure, in one way, that I even see those who end their lives because of a disease as even suicides, because if you are suffering from a terminal disease your approaching death is already a fact and you have just chosen your own way out of further suffering.
 
Someone close to me committed suicide many years ago or so it seemed. We haven't been totally sure that it wasn't accidental. Anyways the effects on those that love the one who commited suicide are often devastating. Someone who didn't even know her convinced me that it was suicide for sure and I really suffered for a long time. Now I realize that it may have been accidental but that still hurts-an accidental suicide.
 
I think you can draw a parallel line between the increased use of anti depressants in this country, and increased suicide rates. Emotional "fixes" rarely, if ever, come out of a bottle.
 
The American suicide rate is up 25% since 1999. Several years ago I had a mental flash lasting about three seconds. I came face-to-face with terror. That is the only way I can define it. It was more than evil and more than the devil. I have never had it happen since but if that was a form of depression then then I understand and accept suicide.
 
billt said:
I think you can draw a parallel line between the increased use of anti depressants in this country, and increased suicide rates. Emotional "fixes" rarely, if ever, come out of a bottle.
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I respectfully disagree. Biochemical depression is not situational, nor is it temporary emotional distress.. It is neurologically based, and tends to run in families. Even with medication, most sufferers experience lifelong recurrences of this debilitating

disease. That said, I do believe that there are people whom the medical professionals stick on long term antidepressants who would be better served by counseling and major life changes. One treatment does not fit all. Many doctors lack the training to discern the difference between biochemical and situational depression. Statistics indicate that far more individuals suicide as a

result of alcohol exacerbated despair than the effects of antidepressants. It would also be interesting to know how much 9/11 and it’s aftermath may have affected the mindset of the American people.
 
It's when people who find their life unbearable don't feel like they can reach out to get help that they consider suicide. My son-in-law's 19-year-old son (from his first marriage) took his life last year. I don't know for sure what would have worked as far as his case. But I believe that it might have certainly helped if everyone involved in his life had made it clear that it's okay to talk about feelings of failure and shame. For example, if a kid who always did well in school starts making substandard grade, reach out with love and caring. Not anger, not judgement, just love. Say that if you aren't making good grades now, it can be handled, because we're all going to find out what's wrong and help you. You just need to talk to us. Then if necessary, get the person counseling if the level of his/her depression requires it. The antidepressants...blaming them doesn't work. That's like saying just don't be depressed. That never worked in my life. Twice in my life I got the treatment I needed and yes, antidepressants and counseling helped me to get through it. Because the problems were very serious in those two times of my life. Other times, I was able to work things out myself and slowly get better with just the help of my true friends.
 
At one time, I had read that the state with the most suicides was Washington state. That was blamed on their dismal weather. I also read that the occupation with the most suicides was dentists. Obviously, it hasn't affected my dentist yet.

I investigated a few suicides over my career. The strangest one was by a man who left a letter, not a note that the reason he was committing suicide was because he was gay and couldn't stand not being able to expose it to anyone. This was back in the late 70's before coming out was popular as it is today. It kind of struck me as being a weird reason to kill oneself, until I gave it some real thought and then I guess I kind of understood his reasoning, but not agreeing with it. He was a lawyer with a very good law practice. Very successful, to say the least.
 
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