This whole mental health craze...

Spanish Eyes

storker wrote: »

The one that makes me laugh is "sex addiction", which usually follows some male celeb getting caught with his hand in the wrong cookie jar. Then we hear that it happened because he's suffering from sex addiction. Yeah, him and every other guy on the planet...

Often Wonder how the other half feels when the addiction is not for drugs or drink, but for SEX with others.

Blxollogy.

mzungu

oneilla wrote: »

You can't do that unless you live a very long time but you can read about how people were treated 100-150 years ago. They were treated extremely poorly. Nellie Bly's account "Ten Days in the Madhouse" and Michel Foucault's writing on the history of madness and psychiatric institutions is a good place to start. People were incarcerated in glorified prisons because others believed that they were mentally ill.

A good read, but riddled from top to bottom with inaccuracies, all in the name of pushing Foucault's anti-enlightenment agenda. Even his biggest admirers have admitted that the book is "bad history". One of many examples being his notion that society revered the mentally ill back in medieval times. This is pure fantasy, the evidence suggests they were treated appallingly back in the medieval era.

Like I said above, it is an interesting read, but given the excessive liberties taken with the facts, it is little more than one mans (heavily biased) opinion.

oneilla

mzungu wrote: »

A good read, but riddled from top to bottom with inaccuracies, all in the name of pushing Foucault's anti-enlightenment agenda. Even his biggest admirers have admitted that the book is "bad history". One of many examples being his notion that society revered the mentally ill back in medieval times. This is pure fantasy, the evidence suggests they were treated appallingly back in the medieval era.

Like I said above, it is an interesting read, but given the excessive liberties taken with the facts, it is little more than one mans (heavily biased) opinion.

Yeah fair enough, I was playing with fire here by referencing a post-modernist writer (ie. "science is relative and nothing is objective; there is no objective truth" - shout out to Alan Sokal*!) while trying to argue for a rigorous scientific method applied to mental health! But, as I said it's a place to start reading if people want something more than a comedian waving his 10mgs of SSRI over his head on television passing as mental health awareness. Institutions exerting control over people was and is a thing.

The Nellie Bly - and later Rosenhan's - experiment prove that the mentally ill were not and are not revered nor are they treated with the dignity you would expect. My point is that mental health/illness/madness/crazy/imbecile etc. is and always have been treated appallingly. The recent case of Dara Quigley illustrates this imo. I have witnessed psychiatric nurses in psych units of hospitals shouting at patients as in, ordering them to do things. Psychiatrists can and will admit people by way of coercion and manipulation eg. "Well, you can be admitted voluntarily or I can admit you involuntary".

*Sokal was a legit scientist who demolished post-modernism by a) submitting a paper to a social science journal which was made up of jibberish and b) publishing a book called 'Intellectual Imposters' which tore apart many of the po-mo theorists. A favourite quote of mine is "if these people believe that gravity is relative then they are welcome to dive out of my 7th story window"

Richard Hillman

There was a good thread on Niall "Brezzy" Breslin a while ago that picks apart all of his stories.

On the full knowledge that he was reading the thread, he hasn't made up a story or suddenly remembered something extreme from his childhood since.

Sympathy is a very addictive dopamine inducer. People can go down very extreme paths to create sympathy related dopamine.

Murrisk

Richard Hillman wrote: »

There was a good thread on Niall "Brezzy" Breslin a while ago that picks apart all of his stories.

On the full knowledge that he was reading the thread, he hasn't made up a story or suddenly remembered something extreme from his childhood since.

Sympathy is a very addictive dopamine inducer. People can go down very extreme paths to create sympathy related dopamine.

Link to the thread? Thanks.

How was it known that he was reading?

Wibbs

flutered wrote: »

to fake mental illness you have to be able to convince many highly skilled people that you mentally ill, not an easy do

Actually it's very easy. I could go to any of the GP's in my immediate area, throw them a couple of leading "symptoms" and would guarantee the majority of them would write up a script for antidepressants after a 20 minute consultation. Many GP's are very quick to prescribe this class of drugs. I've seen this personally with friends and family. So yes I would say faking mental illness is easier than it should be.

oneilla wrote: »

Michel Foucault's writing on the history of madness and psychiatric institutions is a good place to start.

Foucault's stuff is so full of holes it would pass good muster as a fishing net. How he is still taken so seriously is beyond me TBH.

Unfortunately noone knows to a significant degree of certainty which chemicals; what an optimum balance of these chemicals is; why; how; etc. As I said before, the serotonin hypothesis has been around for a good while now and it's yet to be proven. This isn't diabetes.

I'd agree 100% with you here. The "chemical imbalance" explanation is at best a fudge, at worst really bad science. Though nearly a given in the public's eye and most of the medical profession. For a start you can't measure the serotonin levels in the living brain. For another women have lower levels than men, it certainly doesn't mean women are more depressed. SSRI meds(which "correct this imbalance") do work, however the mechanism of how they work is very much up for grabs. In mild to middle level depression the placebo effect* is close in efficacy(minus side effects). They do work for high level depression, but interestingly the placebo effect drops off for many meds with folks suffering at that end of the scale. SSRI's are also becoming less efficacious over time. They worked better in the 90's than today for some reason.


*The placebo effect is not to be sniffed at BTW. It can have a large impact clinically. "Alternative" medicine can actually work via placebo.

manonboard

TheDoc wrote: »

This is something I notice a lot. I had a bit of a breakdown a few months back, serious pressure relating to finances and my personal life and just where I was and my outlook just cracked me. Was uncontrollably in bits curled against a kitchen press on the floor, making noises I'd never heard, crying which I rarely do, just in tatters. Partner in bits with me just having no idea what to do or what was happening. And it just came out of nowhere.

Havn't gone for help or anything as I just figured it out bit by bit myself. Had some good breaks recently that have eased what I've been feeling and its a massive relief. I got a lot of advise to see someone or talk to someone. For me I just wasn't comfortable with doing that. I had a friend, she was a godsend, and was dealing with some serious **** of her own and its like we just talked our **** through and we are both on good runs at the moment.

So for the first time I got an insight first hand what people can experience. I would have brushed it off previously wondering how can people get like that or "suck it up" or whatever. Being bravado, but it doesn't work like that.

Hey theDoc. I just wanted to say I'm really glad you are on the mend and feeling better. It was great you found someone you could connect to and feel understood. It can be a life line. I'm also glad if it's not odd to say that you 'get it' when it comes to mental difficulties now that you've experienced it. Thanks for sharing your experience on it, It can really make a different to a persons mind/day/hour/moment to not be judged or pressured.

Widdershins

oneilla wrote: »

Yeah fair enough, I was playing with fire here by referencing a post-modernist writer (ie. "science is relative and nothing is objective; there is no objective truth" - shout out to Alan Sokal*!) while trying to argue for a rigorous scientific method applied to mental health! But, as I said it's a place to start reading if people want something more than a comedian waving his 10mgs of SSRI over his head on television passing as mental health awareness. Institutions exerting control over people was and is a thing.

The Nellie Bly - and later Rosenhan's - experiment prove that the mentally ill were not and are not revered nor are they treated with the dignity you would expect. My point is that mental health/illness/madness/crazy/imbecile etc. is and always have been treated appallingly. The recent case of Dara Quigley illustrates this imo. I have witnessed psychiatric nurses in psych units of hospitals shouting at patients as in, ordering them to do things. Psychiatrists can and will admit people by way of coercion and manipulation eg. "Well, you can be admitted voluntarily or I can admit you involuntary".

*Sokal was a legit scientist who demolished post-modernism by a) submitting a paper to a social science journal which was made up of jibberish and b) publishing a book called 'Intellectual Imposters' which tore apart many of the po-mo theorists. A favourite quote of mine is "if these people believe that gravity is relative then they are welcome to dive out of my 7th story window"

Yes I think it highlights an urgent need for education on how to handle major mental health breakdowns. I think since there's a constant series of campaigns n the media and online we could do it better and educate the general public but at the very east emergency services should be able to deal with it.

While the way that was phrased sounds unprofessional and intimidating, and maybe a bit suspicious, there's always going to be times when people have to be admitted involuntarily. I imagine there'll also always be a need for locked wards, and physical restraint. On the other side of the story there are the nurses who face being ''hammered'' as my friend put it, on those wards.

It might come as a shock to some to hear that electro convulsive therapy is still practised, and some patients request it repeatedly.

This might sound a bit trite but here goes.

Today society promotes the idea that unlimited freedom is the route to all happiness, but in reality routine discipline and an ordered life contributes a lot to metal health. Its an interesting thing about humans that we believe complete freedom financial freedom, sexual freedom etc, is the route of happiness.

It probably was easier when people had less choice in life.

mzungu

oneilla wrote: »

Yeah fair enough, I was playing with fire here by referencing a post-modernist writer (ie. "science is relative and nothing is objective; there is no objective truth" - shout out to Alan Sokal*!) while trying to argue for a rigorous scientific method applied to mental health!

The man is an out and out legend. He did the humanities a great service with that hoax. What is worrying, is that it seems to have made little impact. Postmodernist thinking shows no signs of abating.

oneilla wrote: »

But, as I said it's a place to start reading if people want something more than a comedian waving his 10mgs of SSRI over his head on television passing as mental health awareness. Institutions exerting control over people was and is a thing.

No doubt, whether or not one signs up to Foucault, it is a worthwhile read. But, like all postmodernism, a lot is fiction over fact. So, caution is always advised!

oneilla wrote: »

The Nellie Bly - and later Rosenhan's - experiment prove that the mentally ill were not and are not revered nor are they treated with the dignity you would expect. My point is that mental health/illness/madness/crazy/imbecile etc. is and always have been treated appallingly. The recent case of Dara Quigley illustrates this imo. I have witnessed psychiatric nurses in psych units of hospitals shouting at patients as in, ordering them to do things. Psychiatrists can and will admit people by way of coercion and manipulation eg. "Well, you can be admitted voluntarily or I can admit you involuntary".

Conditions for patients have improved since then. Most people I know who have been committed to hospital have had only good things to say about the treatment they received. I'm sure there are a few bad eggs there, but by and large things seem to be well run. As far as complaints, most related to psychiatrists, but those would have been things like "they were just not interested and only there for the pay" etc. That said, the shouting at patients that you witnessed is a pretty awful and really shouldn't be happening.

TBH, I think the Nellie Bly asylum exposé and the Rosenhan experiment point to flawed system of diagnosis. The fact that little had changed in the 100 years between the two incidents is quite worrying. Has much changed between Rosenhan and now? It really is (for the most part) a stab in the dark.

Wibbs

Wibbs wrote: »

I'd agree 100% with you here. The "chemical imbalance" explanation is at best a fudge, at worst really bad science. Though nearly a given in the public's eye and most of the medical profession. For a start you can't measure the serotonin levels in the living brain. For another women have lower levels than men, it certainly doesn't mean women are more depressed. SSRI meds(which "correct this imbalance") do work, however the mechanism of how they work is very much up for grabs. In mild to middle level depression the placebo effect* is close in efficacy(minus side effects). They do work for high level depression, but interestingly the placebo effect drops off for many meds with folks suffering at that end of the scale. SSRI's are also becoming less efficacious over time. They worked better in the 90's than today for some reason.


*The placebo effect is not to be sniffed at BTW. It can have a large impact clinically. "Alternative" medicine can actually work via placebo.

In the book "cracked: why psychiatry is doing more harm than good" the author discovered that the supposed efficacy of antidepressants at all levels of of depression could be explained by the placebo effect in people who took double-blind studies but worked out that they must be on the active drug because the side effects are so strong.

Another thing the author found out is that psychiatrists just hate lay people questioning the science behind them and don't want to be robbed of one of their "tools", even if the evidence of their long-run efficacy is weak.

ScumLord

I've been thinking about individuality a lot lately and how we all like to think we're very unique and work well as individuals when we don't at all, it's a myth that's promoted by society and something that's not good for us I think.

These days we all live in our private home and consume products, it's like human society has separated the people so we're easier to deal with, all our power as little people comes from the fact there's a lot of us, and these days we don't see to be able to get a right balance. We either lump into generalised categories like left/right politics where we don't actually agree with everybody else but it's an easy label and modern consumer society has made labeling yourself into a few narrow categories the expression of individuality. Or we find a group with an extremely narrow focus that just ignores the rest of the world is there.

The fact is living alone or just with your immediate family where you don't even know your neighbours isn't a natural state for humans, everything about our society seems to discourage any kind of extended social group.

It was one thing I noticed about a small Irish towns compared to a city. In a city you find a group of friends or associates that you like or share a common interest with and essentially ignore everybody else. In a small town you have to deal with people that don't share your interests, are at different stages in their lives. You have a much broader range of friends and associates. You're not living in the same bubble some urban people can live in.

ScumLord

ScumLord wrote: »

I've been thinking about individuality a lot lately and how we all like to think we're very unique and work well as individuals when we don't at all, it's a myth that's promoted by society and something that's not good for us I think.

These days we all live in our private home and consume products, it's like human society has separated the people so we're easier to deal with, all our power as little people comes from the fact there's a lot of us, and these days we don't see to be able to get a right balance. We either lump into generalised categories like left/right politics where we don't actually agree with everybody else but it's an easy label and modern consumer society has made labeling yourself into a few narrow categories the expression of individuality. Or we find a group with an extremely narrow focus that just ignores the rest of the world is there.

The fact is living alone or just with your immediate family where you don't even know your neighbours isn't a natural state for humans, everything about our society seems to discourage any kind of extended social group.

It was one thing I noticed about a small Irish towns compared to a city. In a city you find a group of friends or associates that you like or share a common interest with and essentially ignore everybody else. In a small town you have to deal with people that don't share your interests, are at different stages in their lives. You have a much broader range of friends and associates. You're not living in the same bubble some urban people can live in.

Nothing to do with the thread but it is something that always struck me about pubs in villager or rural areas you see a much broader range of ages and social classes speaking to each, maybe it just the fact that you have no choice about who you make small talk with in rural ares. Where as in cities and large urban areas people stay much more in their own age and social group.

ScumLord

mariaalice wrote: »

Nothing to do with the thread but it is something that always struck me about pubs in villager or rural areas you see a much broader range of ages and social classes speaking to each, maybe it just the fact that you have no choice about who you make small talk with in rural ares. Where as in cities and large urban areas people stay much more in their own age and social group.

Yeah, that's common in small towns, it was actually your post that made me think of it.

Surreptitious

Sociologically there has been a massive increase in one person households (people living alone) especially in city surrounds. Times have definitely changed in that maybe years ago, you could have more interaction with neighbours and the community. Now people have Just Eat, social media and the like which creates boundaries and distance in personal relationships. We have become a consumerist society with little thought for our fellows and maybe that is why MH issues need to be looked at more as years ago humans interacted in say, rural pubs, shops and the like whereas now they might use Facebook or something else. Shallowness is more evident as make up, fashion and such were not as important before people Instagrammed themselves to death.

It's quite clear we live in sterile joyless times. Even stuff like enjoying Christmas as a child - surely kids are so spoilt every day in absolute terms they don't look forward to Christmas as much as we did?

Surreptitious

Deleted User wrote: »

It's quite clear we live in sterile joyless times. Even stuff like enjoying Christmas as a child - surely kids are so spoilt every day in absolute terms they don't look forward to Christmas as much as we did?

Well Christmas is shoved down our throats for six months of the year these days so I presume the actual wonder of it from yesteryear is lost somehow.

Purple Mountain

Murrisk wrote: »

It seems to be a misguided way to get to the bottom of the high male suicide rates. In reality, I think it's trivialising mental health. A man suffering from depression isn't going to be comforted by good-looking, high-profile Bressie drip-feeding his apparent mental health travails to the media in order to fashion a new career for himself.

That's seriously out of line to accuse anyone of doing that.
You clearly have never read his book or even had any brush with mental health with your disparaging and flippant attitude.

Surreptitious

Purple Mountain wrote: »

That's seriously out of line to accuse anyone of doing that.
You clearly have never read his book or even had any brush with mental health with your disparaging and flippant attitude.

I agree. I was saying already that his looks have nothing to do with his own troubles.

Blanco100

mariaalice wrote: »

This might sound a bit trite but here goes.

Today society promotes the idea that unlimited freedom is the route to all happiness, but in reality routine discipline and an ordered life contributes a lot to metal health. Its an interesting thing about humans that we believe complete freedom financial freedom, sexual freedom etc, is the route of happiness.

It probably was easier when people had less choice in life.

Not trite at all those are very wise words.

Purple Mountain

Surreptitious wrote: »

Purple Mountain wrote: »

That's seriously out of line to accuse anyone of doing that.
You clearly have never read his book or even had any brush with mental health with your disparaging and flippant attitude.

I agree. I was saying already that his looks have nothing to do with his own troubles.

Anybody,famous or not who lays their private life bare with such brutal honesty deserves applause not ridicule.

.........

There's a lot of bluff and bandwagon jumping about mental health now. The main promoters are really only interested in promoting themselves, it's the perfect for bandwagoners, with things like the homeless you have to actually go out and help the homeless, with mental health you just pontificate shyte. In reality, there is actually very little real help out there for people with mental health issues, just lots of self sanctimonious patronising shyte from self promoting gits.

Purple Mountain

Purple Mountain wrote: »

Anybody,famous or not who lays their private life bare with such brutal honesty deserves applause not ridicule.

Does he say whether he had depression?

NIMAN

I would question how many of these Z-listers have actually had serious mental health issues.

I am guessing many of them had feelings of low mood and had the odd day or so when they were p1ssed off with it all (like us all), but I'm sure many are seeing it as a chance now to get their mugs into the Independent or some other media website and getting some free publicity.

Not that long ago, many people were embarrassed to say they weren't feeling well. Now its the new 'bad back' in the workplace, the go-to illness that can get you a few weeks off with no-one saying anything to you. Again, some people have serious issues, but there are a lot of lazy people in workplaces uses MH issues as a way to get time off.

.........

Purple Mountain wrote: »

Anybody,famous or not who lays their private life bare with such brutal honesty deserves applause not ridicule.

Depends on their motive for doing so, which is often just pure self promotion for airtime for their flagging career. I've seen "Bressie" say the most nasty sarcastic things to contestants and fellow judges on the voice, while he laughs smugly at his own remarks. Not much care for mental health of others there.

Purple Mountain

Deleted User wrote: »

Purple Mountain wrote: »

Anybody,famous or not who lays their private life bare with such brutal honesty deserves applause not ridicule.

Does he say whether he had depression?

Crippling anxiety. The worst imaginable.
I do concur that with the rise of all the talk on mental health and fundraising drives etc, there's a great possibly that some people would jump on bandwagon to pedal their own agenda, both in public and private circles. People can be their own judge on that.
But because two people here specifically called out Bressie in this category, I'd challenge them to read his book and not cry.

.........

Purple Mountain wrote: »

I'd challenge them to read his book and not cry.

I've a funny feeling if I read his book I'd cry too . . . while he laughs all the way to the bank.

dd972

It's not a trend or a craze OP, it's late neoliberal capitalism turning the screws and heading towards a society where it's questionable whether being alive is better or more worth the hassle than being dead, and only we can stop it, we either revolt like 1968 or go under.

paleoperson

All nonsense, stay well away from it. Don't become involved, whether emotionally or involving pills and finances.

Mars Bar

me_right_one wrote: »

If you genuinely have a psychiatric illness, which is fine BTW, then no problem. But people who dont, but say they do, are only going to make mental health matters worse for the genuine sufferers.

O.C.D being the most bandied about one. That really bugs me. O.C.D has a real element of fear attached to it. It's Not a quirk.

I don't have OCD but I definitely had tendencies as a child for repetitive behaviour based on fear. If I didn't listen to a song one of my teddy bears would sing before going to bed then I was sure I was going to go blind. That went on for a while and because it "worked", I would do it more. I can't remember how it stopped or how I broke that cycle but I can only imagine the level of fear and anxiety in a person clinically diagnosed as having OCD. It wasn't a fun time for me!

People should not trivialise it. It could be very belittling to a real sufferer.

NIMAN

We will only see an explosion in MH issues in the future, as Generation Snowflake grows up and finds out the world can be cruel.

.........

NIMAN wrote: »

We will only see an explosion in MH issues in the future, as Generation Snowflake grows up and finds out the world can be cruel.

Well it is trendy to have mental health issues now . . .
wait till generation snowflake as you call them decides to takes it out on the elderly to be like yourself and your pensions healthcare etc. They are already being primed to hate old people by being told your future and over generous pension and healthcare costs are why they will have to pay so much tax and still have no home of their own.

.........

......... wrote: »

There's a lot of bluff and bandwagon jumping about mental health now. The main promoters are really only interested in promoting themselves, it's the perfect for bandwagoners, with things like the homeless you have to actually go out and help the homeless, with mental health you just pontificate shyte. In reality, there is actually very little real help out there for people with mental health issues, just lots of self sanctimonious patronising shyte from self promoting gits.

The whole "if only he had a chat and shared his feelings" stuff gets a new injection on social media following Chris Cornell's death. And the profound and tragic gets reduced to moronic soundbites for likes and self publicity yet again.

jigglypuffstuff

Mars Bar wrote: »

O.C.D being the most bandied about one. That really bugs me. O.C.D has a real element of fear attached to it. It's Not a quirk.

I don't have OCD but I definitely had tendencies as a child for repetitive behaviour based on fear. If I didn't listen to a song one of my teddy bears would sing before going to bed then I was sure I was going to go blind. That went on for a while and because it "worked", I would do it more. I can't remember how it stopped or how I broke that cycle but I can only imagine the level of fear and anxiety in a person clinically diagnosed as having OCD. It wasn't a fun time for me!

People should not trivialise it. It could be very belittling to a real sufferer.

This x 100

I have a severe case of OCD.

Its an incredible battle everyday and affects so many aspects of my life..disempowering is an understatement.....I wouldnt wish it on anybody, and the fact that people think being over organised or picky about certain things, or a regimental dieter is OCD is honestly quite odd...and very wrong

Widdershins

Anorexia apparently has the highest mortality rate of any psychological disorder, but it is perceived as a vain, rich girl's disease, a fad and a first world problem.

I think I recently read that there's only one specialist hospital bed for anorexics in Ireland.

Murrisk

Purple Mountain wrote: »

That's seriously out of line to accuse anyone of doing that.
You clearly have never read his book or even had any brush with mental health with your disparaging and flippant attitude.

I've actually suffered from clinical depression a number of times in my life. I've been almost rock bottom. It's my experiences that make me doubt him.

And of course I haven't read his book. His media appearances and articles on the subject have completely put me off doing so.

sashafierce

This post has been deleted.

PMBC

Wombatman wrote: »

Nobody has a right to happiness. Seeing happiness as a right causes anxiety and disappointment.

The people who post are not looking for happiness more like normality. Telling them to get a grip or pull yourself together are of no use to them - they cant pull themselves together.
There are of course charlatans and there are posters who might give incorrect advice. Apart from encouragement, the usual advice given is to seek medical help.

nelly17

Getting better step 1 - uninstall facebook

kunst nugget

sashafierce wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I work in a small town in the Midlands - when I started working here about 12 years ago, there was a suicide cluster. I think something like 6-7 kids in the one class killed themselves. When I was in secondary school over twenty years ago, there were a number suicides over the years I was in there. Teen suicide didn't just magically start happening in the last decade.

sashafierce

This post has been deleted.

sashafierce

sashafierce wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Certainly feels like it, major part of that is the reporting. A few years ago someone posted stats by year by county and I think it was Leitrim alternated between 0 per year and about a dozen a year, so probably alternating judges. I know a case where someone used a shotgun and it was ruled death by misadventure. In common talk it's a bit more open than it used to be but there's still cases where people would rather not make an issue of it.

sashafierce

This post has been deleted.

Mooooo

sashafierce wrote: »

No and I can only speak for my own midlands town and my own experience. I was maybe 22 when I first heard of someone committing suicide. I remember having the discussion with a friend at the time that we were absolutely shocked because we just hadn't heard of this happening before.
Since then there has been loads. Maybe I was just unaware before then but I feel the numbers have increased massively. Obviously social aspects have also changed which I always felt was the reason for the change

TBH you were unaware, a lot of the time they wouldn't be put out as suicide in press or whatever so unless you knew them or the area well. Locally there have been a number over the last 20 years, and like that you would be out of school before anyone would discuss it really with you

kunst nugget

sashafierce wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I think we naturally hear more about suicides and the like through social media. Stories of suicides tended not to travel beyond parishes in times gone by and it was a taboo subject for a very long time. That suicide cluster in the town I worked was devastating for the community but I didn't hear anything about it in my home town just 20 miles away. Now, it would be highlighted, discussed and dissected on facebook but it wouldn't have been the same back then.

sashafierce

This post has been deleted.

B_Wayne

sashafierce wrote: »

A reason I always see it as being a craze in a way is because I am only out of school 10 years. When I was in school you never heard of teenage suicides , at least not to the extent you do today.
You have teenagers having talks on depression and teenage anxiety at school. When I was a teenager these were not a thing and everyone was happy out and there was no cases of suicide in secondary schools. Now you are hearing of kids taking their own lives every week.
Its like the anti vaccine craze now, everyone I know was vaccinated as a baby and are all perfectly fine but all of a sudden its dangerous. 
Times they are a changin'... for the worse!

Out of school 7 years, suicide was a major problem in my area throughout the time I was in school. Used have friends regularly attending funerals.

Then there is the other factor that plenty of suicides were historically not marked as suicide,mainly due to religious reasons. Ireland was always suspected of having an epidemic of suicide but stats were simply skewed due to lying about cause of death.

sashafierce

sashafierce wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Aye but if you talk to older people I find a few of them will remember hearing of deaths when they were much younger which they now wonder about.

sashafierce

sashafierce wrote: »

A reason I always see it as being a craze in a way is because I am only out of school 10 years. When I was in school you never heard of teenage suicides , at least not to the extent you do today.
You have teenagers having talks on depression and teenage anxiety at school. When I was a teenager these were not a thing and everyone was happy out and there was no cases of suicide in secondary schools. Now you are hearing of kids taking their own lives every week.
Its like the anti vaccine craze now, everyone I know was vaccinated as a baby and are all perfectly fine but all of a sudden its dangerous. 
Times they are a changin'... for the worse!

A million times this. I'm the same age as you and could say the same thing. When I was a teen I might have heard of one or two suicides and it seemed beyond noteworthy. The thought of someone *actually* killing themselves seemed hard to comprehend. Now I don't even blink when I hear of a suicide. And I get the impression others don't either. Just seems like par for the course of life post the mid 00s

Purple Mountain

Murrisk wrote: »

Purple Mountain wrote: »

That's seriously out of line to accuse anyone of doing that.
You clearly have never read his book or even had any brush with mental health with your disparaging and flippant attitude.

I've actually suffered from clinical depression a number of times in my life. I've been almost rock bottom. It's my experiences that make me doubt him.

And of course I haven't read his book. His media appearances and articles on the subject have completely put me off doing so.

Each to their own but I personally know someone who has mental health issues and got the book as a present and helped nudge them in right direction and was a great comfort so I think we're balanced now in our opinions on media personas and their publicity on their personal stuff.