R.I.P. Ashley Duncan
The picture above is of a 17 year old teen from Houston named Ashley Duncan who recently committed suicide by shooting herself in the head after dropping numerous hints all over Twitter and Tumblr about being depressed and warning people that her suicide was imminent, yet receiving NO real help. The first reaction most people will have to this is “damn this little chick shoulda MANNED-UP and dealt with life because it gets MUCH harder than breaking up with an ex and dealing with teenage angst” to which I agree with to a point [I am NOT aiming to blame society SOLELY for her actions], but it misses the much LARGER issue: The fact that we as a society continue to nurture a world too unfit for dealing with these kids emotional and mental issues.
Now I understand that there are many reasons why people decide to kill themselves but I want to focus mainly on teens for this discussion, and I DO draw a big difference between teens and adults when it comes to suicide. For most grown ass adults I really feel like suicide is a selfish, self-absorbed escape in MANY [not ALL] cases, which makes it a LOT harder for me to really pity them, but teens on the other hand are already dealing with so much inner conflict and emotional turmoil that their issues deserve special consideration and notoriety. Teens deal with many of the same issues now as teens did 20, 30 and 40 years ago, but there are two unique variables which have made sh*t tough as HELL for them in today’s society: The newfound significance of social importance combined with the fact that we are raising a lot of P*SSIES nowadays, and NOT young MEN & WOMEN.
Let’s keep it real for a second, teen depression has ALWAYS been a large issue in our Modern Western culture. Bullying is NOT new, being disgraced is NOT new, feeling alone is NOT new and questioning your overall importance to the world is NOT new. But the way these kids today RESPOND to these unfortunate scenarios with unprecedented levels of self-harm IS new. Yes I understand it’s hard to be Gay/Lesbian/Bi/An Ethnic Minority/Fat/Skinny/Unpopular, etc. but as hard as it is today it was TEN THOUSAND times harder BACK in the days when society was no where NEAR as enlightened or soft as it is today – so why was there not an epidemic of suicides back then?
Well, thankfully we lived in social bubbles and networking for importance wasn’t a big deal.
Today, social networking is not only about connecting, it’s largely about proclaiming and gaining social importance. It’s about how many friends do you have on Facebook, followers on Twitter and fans on your Tumblr, and it all MATTERS to these teens because, well, social importance has ALWAYS mattered to teens. Being popular, cared about and interesting is what’s important, but thankfully for older generations we just had to deal with that on a very local, micro level, whereas kids today have to deal with that sh*t in LARGE, OPEN E-social settings.
Teens [and adults too] are tweeting and updating their statuses about everything from what they are listening to, to what they want to eat for breakfast tomorrow, to what brand of Tampon they use, and they EXPECT to be replied to because we now live in a society where important people do important sh*t, and unimportant people aren’t VERIFIED and never TREND. It doesn’t surprise me that Ashley killed herself after her tweets went unnoticed and UN-retweeted by her “followers” because that is how these kids actualize their self worth nowadays, and as pathetic as older generations may think it is, that is simply their REALITY.
But here’s the crux of the issue: As much as Ashley was depressed and sad we still believe that the problem with her suicide is the fact that she didn’t just DEAL with her sh*t like the many people BEFORE her. But I ask anyone who says that to answer one simple question: How can WE as a society of parents and educators teach these kids to be STRONG when it’s something that many of us learned but many of us NEVER handed down? What do I mean?
Here’s the beginning of my point:
Don’t be fooled, tag is not just gone at this ONE school, it’s being outlawed at schools across the nation, along with dodgeball and other forms of competition. Oh, and while we are doing that, we are also creating a system of all-inclusive rewards which means EVERYONE gets a 1ST-PLACE ribbon because GOD-FORBID we accurately state that someone actually LOST something. As much as you may think that’s a small deal, that’s only the start of this issue.
Children nowadays are being raised in a world that attempts to assuage any perceived emotional hardship and that’s a TRICKY road to go down, because in the end we all GROW through what we GO through, and if we keep protecting our kids from even learning to socially adapt with the peers how the HELL can we expect them to know how to deal with heartbreak, disappointment and tragedy when it eventually occurs? [and it WILL eventually occur]
So basically you have kids today who were NOT raised to be emotionally independent who are living in a society where being notable and honoured is important, but when they receive neither, lack the proper emotional and mental capabilities to just DEAL with it, like many kids before them. Now I’m NOT saying that ALL kids are weak and superficial, but the increasing number of deaths amongst teens NEEDS to be addressed and telling them simply to MAN UP is NOT the answer.
This Is Your Conscience
40 Comments, Comment or Ping
lincolnanthonyblades
Ladies & Gentlemen, What Do YOU Think Are The Largest Contributing Factors To The Rise In Teen Suicide?
Feb 7th, 2012
mzslick
Other than bully a lot of our points are just exterior rational for suicide due to mental health issues. you would make a point and counteract your statement.
Important to know in the mind of someone who is suffering they're chemical imbalances in the brain, also as teen the mind is still developing most cases childhood trauma has occurred which we may not know of teens and adults in this state share common thought patterns, so imagine not seeking help and you become an adult who is suffering silently in the stigma mental health is still prevalent.
Yes I'm a young adult I see things are different. compounded with a lot of your points. But its societies lack of understanding and knowledge about mental health issues, most people know more about breast cancer even if they haven't known someone with it.
Feb 7th, 2012
Paul B.
Lack of parental guidance for starters
Feb 7th, 2012
Kam
Why is my comment waiting approval
Feb 7th, 2012
Kam
I think you over simplified and missed the boat. You and others like you are the reason a lot of people who suffer from mental health issues don't seek help because they will appear to be pu**ies or soft. 1 in 5 people within Canada will suffer from a mental health issue. This girl Ashley could of been suffering from more than just " teen depression" that saying is such a blanket statement in itself… she could of been manic depressive, bipolar, schizophrenic, suffered from clinical depression or had a chemical imbalance. Why is there is more mental health issues why are there more autistic kids or more findins of cancer it could be ther environment, the food we eat maybe we can finally identify it
I guess woman who suffer from postpartum depression should just toughen up because they just had a baby the most wonderful time in a woman's life but tha not the case. What we should do is not give some neanderthal response like toughen up but start educating children an people of the importance of mental health and the tools that are their to combat it.
Feb 7th, 2012
Kam
Sorry for the spelling errors but I'm on my cellphone, its lagging and I had to rewrite what I wrote. On top of that I'm angry at this post. I have and known people who suffered from mental health issues and for someone to just use his panel to spread ignorance by saying toughen up and raising pu**ies just angers me. This is why we need to educate ourselves to stop the spread of ignorance because just like mental health it's a disease but unlike it can be catching.
Feb 7th, 2012
msjordan11
This was an interesting post and touched light on a very important topic. I've said several times that I'm so happy that I'm not going to highschool in this day and age. People get into fights videotape it and put it on youtube or WSHH. The bullying doesn't just end at school, it's also brought into their facebook, twitter, myspace etc. I do think social media plays a substanial factor in today's rise in Teen Suicide.
Feb 7th, 2012
MistaHarsh
I agree somewhat with mzslick. A lot of it stems from people not being aware of mental illness. Its possible that this teen my have killed herself if she was born in the 30s too. I don't think social media/networking in particular had anything to do with it.
You can say society or you can say the people close to the situation are partly to blame. In most cases of suicide or murder-suicide there always huge warning signs but for some reason no one cared to take it seriously or simply don't know how to respond appropriately to them. There is a need for more education for Schools, parents and counsellors on how to deal with these signs of mental illness.
I does suck when you log onto Facebook and see that you only have 124 friends while some jackass has 634 friends but lets be real how many of those people do you interact with on a daily basis? How many of them would help you move next month? Don't get lost in the numbers game its really a false sense of fame for a lack of a better word…
Feb 7th, 2012
MistaHarsh
I do agree that society is setting up young people for failure by coddling them. Its like those straight A students in high school who hit Uni and get their first B – they go crazy and never recover. Its important to teach young people about winning, losing and trying again to get better eventually succeed.
Winning does not come naturally it takes long hours of failure, practice and determination but you never see that grueling process, you just see the celebration.
I'm from the Micheal Jordan school of thought these young kids are from the school of Lebron…
Feb 7th, 2012
Concrete_Rose
Great article!
I think one of the contributing factors is that the role of family in a child's life is brig diminished. What is becoming their primary go to network are their friends. Why do we often times confide in our friends instead of our family that are always there for us? I honk the biggest reason is that we wont be judged by our friends. What makes it hard for a lot of teens to confide in their parents is that they fear they will be judged, maybe less loved if they tell the truth of the situations they are in. But parents are able to sometimes provide better counsel, and wiser views of particular situations. To an extent they've been there done that or have seen that. I think what's most important to these teens is that they feel a stronger family network. Yes parents will always have their views of what a child should or should not do but that sometimes inhibits the communication between them and their child.
In sum, it goes back to the home. If the parents can instill that there very existence is priceless, that the child can tell them ANYTHING, and teach them that the excessive value on fitting in is not of such high value that society shows it to be, kids can have better judgments.
Feb 7th, 2012
Concrete_Rose
Not each teen that commits suicide is suffering from bipolar, schizophrenia, manic depressive etc. I think what this post is TRYING to do is not dismiss the people who are committing suicide because they don't feel accepted in society. We all know someone who has been considered the loner, the one with no friends, the one who was constantly teased for one thing or another. This post, if I'm right is questioning why is there a rise in teen suicide and what can be done. Not everyone is a schizophrenic so if you rule those things out what's going on. Bc having a mental disorder doesn't necessarily mean you need to be on meds for life. Dealing with the social factors that ones anxiety attacks etc is important for healing
Feb 7th, 2012
Concrete_Rose
And I'm not at all dismissing mental disorders. They are factors, I'm looking beyond that at the social influences side.
Feb 7th, 2012
Kam
No one gets ups and says society doesn't accepte me I'll just kill myself. That comes from the feeling of being alone, hopeless, fear these are symptoms of depression a mental health issue.. Which a registered mental health practitioner can help you with. What this article failed to negate is teen suicide can b majority of the time I would even say all of the time to a mental health issue and when I say mental health im not talking necessarily the need for medication but for intervention or counseling. When people are walking around undiagnosit or feel this a phase or to toughen up that's dangerous. With that I don't agree with Lincoln or you yes their social factors and I can also say enviorental and biological. But mainly biological people are suffering for mental disorders and saying we are raising pu**ies is irresponsible and ignorant.
Feb 7th, 2012
Concrete_Rose
I don't think that it's that we're raising pussies, man up and take it type of thing. And I do think these teens have reached a point of depression. But I think that these symptoms and responses to anxiety can be avoided with the right nurturing, ESP.from their family.
I don't think that for everyone it has to reach the point of their mental health staus is altered. I think there are things that can be learned early so that ppl can respond well to stressors. Of course this wouldn't work the same for a person who biologically has a chemical imbalance
Feb 7th, 2012
Kam
Mental Health status? What is that? Please define… Because it sounds like you're automatically think disease. The problem with people as soon as they hear mental health they think it's medication, or stray jacket. Mental health is the same as physical health there are different ways of maintaining it. It's not automatically chemical imbalance but you can suffer from mild depression or panic attacks where talking to a counselor a psychiatrist for even an hr a week can help your mental state.
I recently saw that this mother enrolled her son into a yoga and meditation class because he suffered from anxiety ( mental health issue) triggered by his need for being a perfectionist. He received a form of intervention ( the yoga class) which the mother said has helped to accept and combat his anxiety and realize he can't be perfect all the time.
Feb 7th, 2012
grandgryph
interesting discussion; and some good insights, kam. couple points:
- cyber-bullying is some different ish; just think of growing up possibly having your most embarrassing moment captured and broadcast-ed to all your 'friends' – with or without you knowing about it. that's a different sort of pressure that most people born before the 90s can't relate to at all. bullying is very different today, and every reputable source says so.
- we are definitely raising some bubble wrap kids (more commonly known as p*ssies). it truly sickens me how soft some kids are. but, i'm not sure if those are the same kids that are offing themselves. my hunch says 'no'. again, most teen suicides are kids who have been bullied or ostracisized systematically – not just wimps who can't handle hardship and disappointment.
- every thing in your body is `chemical'. the experience of hunger is a 'chemical imbalance' – as are all emotions. psychiatrists don't know for certain what causes 'mental illness' – or if they do, they ain't saying. 'chemical imbalance' just makes it seem scientific. anyway, if it is an imbalance there has to be something that causes that imbalance. they don't usually bother with that so much, they just cycle a patient thorough drugs until the patient either acts 'normal' or 'stops' complaining of symptoms. and, then there is stuff like this: http://www.democracynow.org/2010/3/1/gary_greenbe... that casts a cloud on somethings.
like you noted, there are major social and environmental factors as well, but since there is no pill for that, it doesn't get much attention. in treating anxiety and depression, techniques like those practiced in yoga can be as effective as medication; if not more because a person is more likely to continue practicing those techniques opposed to continuing medication. the pill industry of course suppresses and resists this truth, but it is coming out now.
- mental illness (i.e. neuro-cognitive diversity) still freaks a lot of people out. the truth is most people are more than just a little bit off in their own way, madness is determined if that difference is socially useful. how many psychopaths do you think are in the military? must musicians have bi-polar traits if not the disease itself? how many lawyers – or maids – are o.c.d? if these mad people hadn't found their niches they are more likely to become problems.
which takes us back to cyber-bullying – and bullying in general – and why we might be experiencing a different kind of teen suicides these days. i don't think of course that it is because those kids just aren't tough enough, if anything it is those who participate in bullying behavior who are the p*ssies. but in the digital age, ostracism has very different repercussions and these kids know that.
Feb 7th, 2012
MistaHarsh
I agree with you Kam. When people hear mental illness they think of extreme cases like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest but mental illness is also something that people like Steve Jobs sufferred from. If diagnosed and treated you can overcome. In this girls case we can never know what she was dealing with but the cries for help were obviously there.
Like I said earlier this girl may have had the same fate if she was born in the 1930s
Feb 7th, 2012
@craziijnell
Bullying really doesn't end. Before, as bullies or the bullied, we'd leave school and that would be that. Now, the bullying follows you on the phone and computer. I had a friend say "wtf, why don't these kids just get rid of their accounts?!" I really looked at her with THE MOST JUDGMENT I could muster, "so you want them to live their lives differently than every other kid? ostracize themselves?"
For all the good of social media, the kids now are a new generation, they have been wired their whole lives. They live in this fake anonymity the internet affords them. It's sad that a suicide plea is unheard and bullying is in every facet of teen life.
Feb 7th, 2012
lincolnanthonyblades
Kam This Is An Issue I Know INDEPTHLY, And Like I Stated Above, There Are MANY Reasons For Suicide, But I Am Approaching A Certain Sector Of Suicides That's On The Rise Not ALL Suicides, And Claiming That All These Kids Are Bipolar Is Simply Ridiculous And WRONG…
Do You Know That The Age Group Of 15-24 Accounts For The Most Suicide Attempts Of Any Age Group And Also The LOWEST Success Rate Of Suicide? There Are MANY Stories Out There Of Kids Who TRIED To Kill Themselves And WHY They Did, And If You Were To Sit Down And Listen To Them It's Not About Medication, Mental Problems And Emotional Disorders, It's About Kids Who Can't Deal With The Pressures Of Today's Society Compounded With Their Teenage Inability To Control Their Wild Emotions
Feb 7th, 2012
lincolnanthonyblades
I Think You're Missing My Point…I'm Not Addressing EVERY Case Of Suicide, But The Increasing Risk Of A CERTAIN TYPE Of Teen Suicide Is On The Rise And Stats [And Survivors Alike] Even Contest That It's Not Simply Mental Illness..
Feb 7th, 2012
Kam
Grandgryph if you know me I'm anti pills. Im very big on natural remedies however I'm of two minds knowing people who suffer from mental healh disease ranging from postpartum, mild depression,a manic/schizophrenia I can see medication can help. No one can tell where the origin of mental health issues it could be environmental, the food we eat it can be hereditary. I do not agree with this soft or pu** ies theory. I think mental health is becoming increasingly more evident like cancer. I think we need to educate and provide the tools to people how to identify and combat mental health.
Some people have better coping skills in dealing with life's ups and downs some dont and they being to develop mental health issues. For instance some people who live in colder climates can deal with the lack of sun others start becoming depressed that's why they are incouraged to take vitamin d or get in door floureccent lights that mimic the sun. Not everyone is built the same some need more help than others and they should be aware and no it's nothing to be ashamed of or ridiculed about. And calling them soft will not help the situation regardless of the circumstances just make it worst.
Feb 7th, 2012
Concrete_Rose
I don't think that you think ppl see where you're coming from. Mental health status-an altered state of mind or level of confusion. You're making it sound like no one knows ppl with mental health problems. I sure doo, so you don't even have to go there. I just think that Although there's interventions, there are also preventions. There's no simple prevention, but if nourished the right way and ppl have ppl in their lives their not afraid to confide in that can be nonjudgmental and wise, teen suicide can be lowered for some ppl.
Feb 7th, 2012
Kam
I believe in prevention that's why I said people should be educated and made aware of mental health and how to maintain it. I don't believe by labelling people as "soft" or "pu**ies" in any circumstance will help with them with mental health or prevent them from committing suicide.
Feb 7th, 2012
Kam
Yes because a lot of young people don't have the tools of copping with life but labelling them as soft or pu**ies is not helping the situation.
Scenario
Male gets teased and bullied in school, he becomes depressed falls into a depression because they feel they cannot fit into society, because of this depression the feeling of lost, hopelessness they commit or attempt suicide. This child needs a form of intervention to rebuild his mental health ( that can be finding things to boost his self esteem, and providing other essential tools that will help him maintain a healthy mental state). Mental health does not mean the extreme case of some one in a asylum.
I don't believe its just a person gets tease/bullied -> they're soft -> then they commit suicide.
I believe its…. they get teased -> mental state becomes unstable in this case they sink into a depression -> then suicide.
I agree on one thing teens have wild emotions and emotions affect your health. It can affect your physical and mental health.
Feb 7th, 2012
petersburgh
I think you hit the nail on the head. The way I see it is that society itself has failed the youth and with the pressure of vying for importance even stronger now because of these social sites etc, these teens have it so hard nowadays and we as adults tend to blame and point rather than show, teach or praise. We tell them to MAN UP but we don't
Feb 7th, 2012
Vicky
My two cents about this topic……
Yes, bulling have been around for generations however now it can massively explode and reach thousands of people in a split second….which was NOT the case in my day (OMG, I feel old saying that!).
I have said this before, children are spoiled now days. They do not understand the word NO, or know how to fail. As mentioned in the article, everyone wins first place, hell, they don't even fail children in school anymore. "Timmy can't read and write? That's ok, send him to the next grade because it will hurt his self esteem and confidence". Really? Now he is in grade 7 and starting to act out, quick, grab the riddelin! Who's to say that those children who were prescribed these mind numbing pills do not have anything to do with their "mental" issues now days? Have they ever found the long term affects?
I also believe that it has a lot to do with the parents….now more than ever, both parents are working and the child doesn't have the same up bringing like most of us. I was raised by my grandparents while both my parents worked. However, I still had a stable adult teaching me right from wrong, the word no, as well one who instilled in me to fuck the world and whatever others have to say about you. I have been on the other side of bullying, yes it hurt like hell growing up, but I had my rock to go home to. Most children now days are at the baby sitters, or being raised by a nanny.
Anyone else wonder why does a 10 year old have a facebook account to begin with?
Feb 7th, 2012
mzslick
I genuinely hope anyone suffering with any type of mental health issue will learn to advocate for themselves, seek knowledge, teach themselves about their own disorder as much as possible, to be able to translate it accurately to others and share without shame.
Young people don't find out how common and treatable it is until its too late (in jail, homeless, on drugs) These days yes, the media and social networking people paint a picture, post them too, depicting their life as being great, blessed, perfect, dropping quotations they found on twitter.
Most people don't live what they preach via social networks, it's a facade a place many go to be the person they really wish they were, so they will be damned to watch or help you, if your constantly posting negative ish. But if you phoned up any random stranger in a phone book and told them how you felt. I'm sure they would show genuine concern for your well being or tell you to seek help.
If a teen is not enlightened at this crucial age, of course they feel more isolated. I strongly support mental health awareness especially for the youth on a bigger scale. Walks, parades, and a national month and wearing a green ribbon.
Writing the article brought discussion and awareness weather people agree or not , thats always a plus.
halleh-lou
Feb 7th, 2012
Pe.Riche.
"For most grown ass adults I really feel like suicide is a selfish, self-absorbed escape in MANY [not ALL] cases, which makes it a LOT harder for me to really pity them.."
While I respect your stance on adults who commit suicide, I think that your opinion fails to account adults (and teens, for that matter) who suffer from mental illnesses. Being that our health care system is in shambles and not readily available to those who need it most, mental health tends to be neglected even more so because of the stigmas associated with it.
The serious contemplation of suicide in and of itself alone is a sign of some form of a mental illness. So to say that an adult who commits suicide is selfish, perhaps you should consider all of the adults who have a mental illness, yet, remain undiagnosed.
Feb 7th, 2012
Pe.Riche.
I have to agree with you Kam. Mental health is highly neglected, and so many people are afraid to seek help out of fear of being judged.
I loathe the notion that people who contemplate or commit suicide are some how selfish. I believe that perhaps the blame should be placed on society for not cultivating a safe haven for those who are mentally troubled to seek the help and attention that they so need.
Feb 7th, 2012
Pe.Riche.
"It's not automatically chemical imbalance but you can suffer from mild depression or panic attacks where talking to a counselor a psychiatrist for even an hr a week can help your mental state."
Actually, any mental health issue is indeed attributed to a chemical imbalance in the brain. The most common form of mental illness, depression (also knowns as unipolar disorder or clinical depression, major depression, ect.) is caused when receptor sites fail to receive specified neurotransmitters. Obviously the science behind mental illness is far more complex than what I just stated, but it is an overly simplistic explanation for such a profound topic.
Feb 7th, 2012
sigh
as much as outright bullies are an issue.. i believe that an even bigger issue that has arisen that many people do not even notice or just decide to ignore.. is the issue of the fakeness that is being promoted as being "politically correct" and "all accepting" that teens are forced to accept and develop… it causes them to be unable to deal with social situations.. or empathize with others on a genuine level OR accept criticism or differing opinions… and as much as teens try and be fake to appear "tolerant", others (who have been raised under the "fakeness" epidemic who now dont know how to handle disappointment, differing opinions etc etc) see the fakeness.. recognize it…and respond poorly to it… and when its someone who is borderline suicidal who is affected by the same fakeness they were raised under, this can do more damage that outright bullying ever could.
why this causes a problem is because at the core of a teen, teens aren't stupid. they can tell when someone cares about their situation or when they can care less… just because we live in this culture where its telling kids "despite what you believe or how youre raised, act like you give a shit, have tolerance, accept, dont call names bla bla" doesnt mean other teens cant smell bullshit when you try and "reach out" or "include them" or "give them advice")…when really you could care less and it doesnt affect you..(got forbid you meet someone who doesnt ascribe to the "be tolerant of all" mindset, thats even more crippling.) (hell just because canada has a charter of rights, doesnt mean everyone believes it. they just follow it because its law…).. doing kids favours and giving them the time of day (i.e responding to a tweet) just to apease them would rarely fix the main problem –> that kids have become inherently anti-social (less GENUINE care for humanity)… socially-retarded… and more or less distanced from the ability to take on the view point of another……. the genuine care about human life is disappearing.. and if it didnt disappear its because its "trending" and youd look "bad" if you didnt trend it with everyone else…
another issue affecting this… is the disassociation between humanity and CARE FOR HUMANS…. we professionalize and institutionalize EVERYTHING……
Social media and institutions try their best to be a blessing, but within this "fake tolerance or avoid" culture it can be a curse in itself!! IMO… Institutionalizing intervention does more to create another job position than actively discourage teen suicide….. disassociation between care and individuals (i.e professionalizing the issue.. and making it a institutional/pharmaceutical/councillor problem).. does more to promote the problem than help it.. because kids arent interacting with an institution everyday.. theyre reacting to OTHER PEOPLE.. people who have NO responsibility to them or the rest of humanity.. as humans have made a job out of everythnig that SOCIETY used to provide like donations, councilling, care, solidarity, relief etc etc etc… now its "if you have a problem…theres people/drugs for that") *this also affects the rage on influence a parent can have on their child but that is a whole other issue….
yes in some cases kids are being raise in bubbles and whatnot but kids dont need to man up more than society needs to get away from this fake "we accept everyone" bs facade they're trying to sell to look politically correct or socially acceptable (facade thats been pu tin place as the responsibility for those who need help *in any way* has been designated to professionals and councillors instead)…. and let people be who they are and make friends based on that… because when ish hits the fan that "i care about humanity/politically correct/tolerance/acceptance" facade will crack… and the teen who feels that they do not want to live anymore sees the crack well and clear when everyone else doesnt or pretends not to.
i know this is probably confusing and not touching all factors that would encourage suicide, but i edited it like a million times and had so much more to say but this topic just makes me really upset. ive had battles with depression and suicide before and its not as simple as "seek medical help" "you have a mental disorder" bla bla.. there are other mitigating factors – social factors – that perpetuate the depression and can encourage teen suicide… coping is one thing, but when theres only bs to cope with thats a whole other ballgame
Feb 7th, 2012
Kam
Pe. Riche you are right mental health issues deal with chemical imbalance. Depression is said to be caused with the neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine are under active (thanks psychology minor lol). When I said that statement I meant more sever chemical imbalance vs non sever. Like one you may need medication to stabilize vs one you can stabilize through other methods other than pharmaceutical drugs.
Thanks for the correction though
Feb 7th, 2012
Kam
I like you please comment more often.
Feb 7th, 2012
grandgryph
i'm pretty skeptical of 'natural remedies'. i'm not anti-meds, it is just that doctors rely on that to the exclusion of all other types of treatment. even ones that have proven useful (i.e., yoga and yoga-type things).
kids are softer today – i think that's almost indisputable. i just don't know what connection that has to depression and anxiety, or that today's kids are more anxious and depressed than previous generations.
i agree that there needs to be more education, but this education needs to admit that stigma holds a certain social currency to some and has to combat those impulses as well.
Feb 8th, 2012
Kam
There is no connection between the theory of soft and mental health. The need to maintain mental health is a fact to say children are soft is subjective. The girl Ashley looked like she was suffering from depression for her to take her life she was even posting and blogging about it. I think mental health issues are becoming more predominat just like we have more cases of cancer and autistic kids.
Their will always be stigmas when I say mental health I know some pictured medication or an asylum. Education is the only way to combat certain ignorance.
Feb 8th, 2012
grandgryph
THIS is what i'm talking about with a generation of pussies: http://www.torontosun.com/2012/02/07/let-mitchell...
the fact that kids would bully then rob a kid with muscular dystrophy and that other kids would be idle as this shit was happening to me says kids are pussified.
the victim – mitchell – isn't the weakling his attackers and all those complicit are.
where are the people – the other kids – who would stand up in some way or see that mitchell wouldn't be bullied or face repercussions for doing what he could to stand up for him self (or at least what the adults told him to do)?
maybe i'm being nostalgic, but i don't think shit like this would have happened twenty five years ago. society is getting more cowardly much more quickly than its victims are.
Feb 8th, 2012
Kam
I agree his attackers are weaklings
Where are the people? You are describing the Bystandard Effect people fail to act in emergency situations. The Bystandard affect has been around for years women have been rapped in broad daylight and nothing done. Peole fail to act when they feel the emergency really doesnt affect them.
Feb 8th, 2012
grandgryph
that's a good point. though there is a difference when you see something happening to a stranger, versus something happening – over a period of time – to someone one you know.
Feb 8th, 2012
Kam
No there is no difference when people do not want to handle or face a situation they will turn a blind eye or live in denial. This happens within the family. There are cases when a child is being molested by another family member and adults within a caregiver position fail to act. They either turn a blind eye or even accuses the child of lying. People do not want to add another burden onto themselves.
Feb 11th, 2012
grandgryph
of course there's a difference ethically.
if i just see some random person getting assaulted any you don't know the back story or whatever that's one thing. it might be very smart to not put yourself at risk.
where as if you know a person fairly well and know for a fact that they are being victimized, it's a next level of coldness, self-interest and/or cowardice to do absolutely nothing about it.
it sadly still happens, but i think less frequently than when a stranger is assaulted.
Feb 11th, 2012
Reply to “Here’s The Sad Truth About Teen Suicide: It’s ALL Of Our Fault As A Society”