SUICIDE AND MAJOR DEPRESSION

Despite more awareness and open dialogue on the topic, suicide and major depression is still clouded by misunderstanding, stigma, and denial. Society still treats major depression and suicide as topics that are lesser than bodily diseases. Such issues are regarded by some as social or moral reflections or a brief feeling of being down and not the serious issues they are. People need to see that life downturns are not the end all that merits suicide, but brief set backs that will be rectified with time. If somebody just suffered a heart attack or had Cancer you would not leave them alone and push them to snap out of it and get out of bed yet people with major depression are often left to themselves and end up self medicating with little or no psychiatric care or therapy. There is still great misunderstanding about the seriousness of major depression and the suicidal mind. People just assume their children and social contacts are well when they may be saying things like "I want to kill myself." Such like statements could mean what they say. People need to treat psychiatric illnesses like major depression seriously and understand the necessity to prevent and understand suicide. Just like any bodily illness sometimes we become overloaded and need to take a step back and get care. That does not make us moraly inferior or a lesser person yet too often people see suicide as the only option when they just need appropriate care and a chance to regroup and possibly medication to treat an imbalance. Too many people are getting lost forever especially the young and talented. It is important to not allow toxic household goods, medication both old and new and weapons like firearms to be available in the house when someone is suspected of being in a major depression or suicidal. It is also worthwhile to make sure someone in a major depression or suicidal is properly cared for and not allowed to get negative messages from friends or the internet. So many people make mistakes assuming a loved one is happy and fine or just needs to snap out of it and the serious nature of this issue is ignored until it is too late. I would highly recommend good support groups for personal help as well as understanding and appropriate psychiatric care. We are all special individuals, unique as we are. We make mistakes that we can learn from most of the time. Sometimes we can have mental health issues that can be addressed and thereafter we can move on with our lives. You are enough just as you are, but occassionally you may need a little tweaking. You are your best care giver. See a specialist, listen and learn. You are not alone.