searching,

Unfortunately it is not as though few people have had experience with people suffering from depression and do not understand. The sad truth is that a little while ago our culture took a turn somehow towards a very nasty greedy and egocentric individualism and the social contract we always had as a society to take care of the vulnerable was broken. Where leaders consistently exhibit 'me, me, me' behaviour themselves there is no surprise that the easily led also follow. There is also the cumulative effect of victim politics, where large groups of people claiming discrimination, advocates included, have managed to hijack the social debate and the welfare funding. Truly the various discrimination commissions and other government sponsored advocacy groups such as for multiculturalism need to be reviewed and a sunset declared.

There are far too many physically and mentally capable people hanging from the government teats for reasons of 'discrimination' and 'equity', which translated means they claim hand-outs and dependency for life. No wonder there is such growth in indigenous numbers, it is a free pass for everything from free trout (no licence needed) through to an easy, funded passage through university and despite the over-supply of soft degrees such as in indigenous studies and indigenous law.

Frankly I don't know how the real vulnerable people such as the aged, the disabled and the mentally ill can manage to be heard through the clamour of the faux disadvantaged. Even where some priority is apparently given to mental health issues via a ministry, the victim industries that have proved to be so profitable for professionals and other hangers-on, seem to take over the agenda.

There remains a large section of the electorate that understands and empathises with the vulnerable mentally ill. Many voters are exasperated with the cynicism of the established political parties, including the time-wasting, grandstanding Greens and there will be far more volatility in the electorate with frequent turnover of members. One day, soon we hope, some statesmen will be found to lead in the community's interest rather than take advantage for themselves.

I think the main problem with most lives today is that they are too simple, safe, & plain boring. A few dozen hairy mammoths, running around our city streets would probably cure most, if not all these problems with suicide.

Our bodies are crying out for some adrenalin, & all the other chemicals we generate in times of physical, & mental stress/danger. If we can’t find it at work, home, or food gathering, we will generate it some how, & fear of death, even at our own hands would have a soup of these things swishing around our heads.

Worry is probably a life saver, rather than a damaging problem.

Look at the rise of dangerous “games” like street racing & hooning in cars to see the result. It is also probably why some people like horror movies.

You only have to look at the extremely rapid growth of motor racing, off shore yacht racing & sky diving in sporting activities, & white water rafting & other “adventure” tourism activities to realise we humans reed some excitement in our lives.

The excitement probably needs to be accompanied by some physical exertion which may be why those who have to work in a garden, hoeing weeds for 10 weeks to get a meal are less likely to suicide, than those who pop into the supermarket for 5 minutes, on the way home from work

So if you have a friend with emotional problems, try throwing them out of an airplane, it should cure something

The power of ideology never ceases to amaze me. It is a pervasive syndrome that knows no class barriers.
Why do we continue to treat so-called mental illness as a pathology manifested in an "individual" subject? Well the answer of course is that it is a lucrative business. Has anyone crunched the numbers on the money involved in the anti-depressant market?
<Some stress is brought on because of trends in society: the rise of individualism and consumerism; a decline in a sense of community and of the importance of the family unit.>

He's onto something here! But the diagnosis is still too localised. So-called individualism is the goose that laid the golden egg. Any thinking person will soon conclude that there ain't no such animal as a self-sufficient individual. Yet individualism is the raison d'etra of consumerism..?
Mental illness, hyperbolically inflated (like the article), is running at about twenty percent in any one year. That's a lot!
But of course it's not mental illness manifested randomly in one in five of the population like some kind of psychic tumour. Most mental illness is not organic at all; it's a social disease. So why are we treating it monadologically? Wouldn't it be better to fix the society? Well the author suggests that, but he doesn't go the whole mile; no point trying to make a family happy when they live under some form of tyranny. Society and culture are manifestations of the economic base--blasphemy! We don't have sick individuals, we have a sick society and culture and the rash we call mental illness is the symptom. Modern humans are hot-house plants (the botanical name is Valetudinarian), cultured in utterly artificial conditions and, like any exotic alien, are prone to illness..
Of course that's all thet've ever known and they put it down to sheer complexity.

None are so blind as those who cannot see.

While I agree that society conditions us to ideas and beliefs, it is always up to the individual how they choose.

I absolutely agree there is big business in "health".

It is easier to prescribe a "pill" than actually help the sufferer holistically.

A young man my daughter worked with hung himself on his verandah - his father found him. For all intents and purposes, this young man "appeared" normal. Another young man from my daughters school hung himself in the backyard - he too "appeared" normal.

Yes society does have a lot to answer for, but please, please, do not discount the "depressed" person as feining mental illness.

I also agree that exercise is of great benefit for sufferers of depression - it acts on the seritonin in the brain.

At some levels, I think it is wonderful that some do not comprehend what it is like live with devils in your head - I wish upon a star that I could be like this - because it would mean I was "normal".

Depression is so insidious. Because people cant see an outward sign in the sufferer they assume it does not exist. If we could show you a bruise, or sores, or xrays of something broken, you would believe us.

Be thankful you do not understand, but do not be so arrogant as to presume you know the cause and the answer.

Hi Searching, I have experienced both short term post natal depression, depression commencement during the first year of my daughter's [now 20 yrs] life, felt it trying to re-commence after crises events over the years. I have been fortunate that on each occasion I refused to allow it to take hold, getting myself out of a forthcoming bog by exercising, starting a business from home, and organising a support group for parents [Dads and Mums] that year for two years.

On both sides of the family, depression and bi-polar present in two relatives, supporting these two relatives periodically over 20 years, in addition to raising my children and work. Given individuals suffer from varying degrees of depression, deal with it [or do not]differently, of course no-one is able to generalise and know all causes and/or come up with all of the solutions.

Discussions and threads will always give people the opportunity to offer some suggestions and advice from their own experiences, or a loved one[s].

We are Unique.

I was not intending to belittle anyone for their opinions. As you stated, people handle this condition differently - some people are "glass half full people" and some "glass half empty".

My family and friends know I am much saner on medication. My doctor doesnt know why the "tap" in my head seems to turn on and off at will.

Over the years I have learnt different coping strategies too - one is writing.

I fear for the young with all the pressures of society these days. They dont have the wisdom that comes with experience and age to help them cope.

The young news reader had a "good life" from all outside appearances - a career, a supportive family, a future life with a partner, yet she could not go on.... so, so sad.

And life goes on.....