"The Teen Suicide Epidemic"

[Nitsuj]

I'd try to kill myself too if I was in Michele Bachmann's school district.

[Shell B]

Absolutely. When one makes the decision to kill themselves, the burden of life is lifted from them and they will seem to finally have found happiness. It is because they know the pain is going to end. I hung out with my best friend the day before he killed himself and he seemed to be coping fairly well for the situation he was in. It was only because he had already decided to kill himself, and he came home to hang out with me one last time.

Just so you know, I gave you kudos for the accurate answer. I was by no means giving a "thumb's up" over your friend's demise. I am sorry to hear about that.

[Autumnlicious]

This is intolerable.

And this is "evil" at the core of things.

If there weren't an Us vrs Them before, there sure as hell is one in my mind now. As in "They" being callous, cold hearted, ideologically pure monsters who'd rather sacrifice their own children to their "beliefs".

No better than the Shining Path as far as I'm concerned.

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Just so you know, I gave you kudos for the accurate answer. I was by no means giving a "thumb's up" over your friend's demise. I am sorry to hear about that.

I gave a kudos because I, too, know that the "sudden rebound" is the calm before the storm, having experienced grave depression too.

[Shell B]

Thanks, I appreciate that, but to be honest, sometimes I wonder if it was a good thing. I am very content in my life now and my depression is pretty much under control. Is my life now worth all of the pain I've endured? I would say yes, but sometimes I'm not so sure.

In my opinion, some of the treasures in life, such as children, romantic love, etc. are worth every ounce of pain. Is that pain easy to handle? Absolutely fucking not. Depression isn't just sadness, but I think most people in this thread know that. I always imagine that I will miss something epic, like a niece's graduation or wedding and she will be sitting there going, "I wish my Aunty Shelly could have been here." That helps me pound through the chemical tantrums my brain has.

I know the above sounds corny, but it doesn't come from a position of "Hey, cheer up!" It comes from a position of knowing. It totally fucking sucks. One of the things I hate is people saying, "Just snap out of it." to people with depression or saying that their actions or thoughts are selfish. People like that have no fucking clue what it is like. It is selfish to treat a person who is in the grip of depression like an asshole. In my experience, it isn't selfish. Most people want to kill themselves because they feel like they have nothing to offer or that they are a waste of space and their pain is to great to endure. It is those emo punks who cry suicide every time they are remotely sad, but never have any intention of doing it that cause that general public opinion of suicide being selfish because those people are selfish.

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I gave a kudos because I, too, know that the "sudden rebound" is the calm before the storm, having experienced grave depression too.

On the bright side, (as if there is such a thing) I have heard that depression is more common among intelligent individuals. That must mean we're all smart! Of course, that also means we're smart enough to know how to do it.

I hope you don't slip back too often, Syn.

[Autumnlicious]

One of the things I hate is people saying, "Just snap out of it." to people with depression or saying that their actions or thoughts are selfish.

A surefire way to drive me into a rage, also. I've punched people fucking with my charges (high friends) while I babysat them. Did they think that their actions may provoke a terrible trip? No. They only did it for their own personal tittilation.

Which is why I take up issue with this:

People like that have no fucking clue what it is like.

Untrue. In fact, most, if not all, people have experienced depression.

However, like my example with fucking with high people maliciously, others, when hearing about another's depressive state, say what they say because it makes them feel better, without giving a damned bit of care to the depressed victim.

Everyone is selfish, to a degree.

But some people honestly need help.

Their "selfishness" is immaterial to what is at stake.

[Shell B]

People like that have no fucking clue what it is like.

Untrue. In fact, most, if not all, people have experienced depression.

However, like my example with fucking with high people maliciously, others, when hearing about another's depressive state, say what they say because it makes them feel better, without giving a damned bit of care to the depressed victim.

Everyone is selfish, to a degree.

But some people honestly need help.

Their "selfishness" is immaterial to what is at stake.

I'm going to have to meet you half way on this. While I do agree that everyone is selfish to a degree and that some people who have had depression are still insensitive, I still think there are a number of people who just don't understand it. Sure, they may feel a short term, non debilitating depression. However, not everyone has had the kind of depression that keeps you in bed for more than a week, the kind that is coupled with crippling anxiety or the kind that is coupled with incessant scary or suicidal intrusive thoughts. Someone who has felt something that profound and terrifying is probably more likely to feel compassion for other depressed people.

[Autumnlicious]

Never said that everyone has experienced it at length, at such amplitudes. Only that everyone, at one point, has tasted the feeling.

It was my way to point out the callousness of others at their perceptions of what 'depression' is and what it means to them, as opposed to "walking a mile in the other's shoes" and seeing what they mean.

[Shell B]

Never said that everyone has experienced it at length, at such amplitudes.

Of course, you didn't. I'm sorry I implied that.

It was my way to point out the callousness of others at their perceptions of what 'depression' is and what it means to them, as opposed to "walking a mile in the other's shoes" and seeing what they mean.

There is a lot of callousness when it comes to mental states of being. Even the overly happy get a dose of mental health stigma.

[Minimalist]

Does anyone know of any studies as to why depression is so rampant among teens in the first place?

Suicide is the 3d leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds, right behind accidents and homicide in the US according to the CDC?

[Shell B]

Does anyone know of any studies as to why depression is so rampant among teens in the first place?

Suicide is the 3d leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds, right behind accidents and homicide in the US according to the CDC?

I'm sure there are studies available. I will have to give that a look. My guess would have to be a combination of hormones and the difficulties of conformity and non-comformity, both at home and at school. As adults, we can choose where we live, who we live with, who we associate with and where we work, to an extent. That alleviates some pressure, I am sure. Also, depression and anxiety may kick in around that age. It takes years to learn to cope with that, if you ever can. So, it might be overwhelming to teenagers who have these feelings come on in the midst of the chaos that is being a teenager. *off to look for studies*

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This article cites studies that suggest genetic triggers. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp068195

This is obviously only part of the picture, in my opinion.