It is clear among the layman (including me) there is a lot of misinformation and mythology surrounding suicide. I am sure there is also much we know now that we did not in the past. In particular in relation to the effects of mental illness, drug abuse and specific events that instigate these depressive states. I am not expert but have liaised with social workers for intervention when there was a perceived risk of suicide. There seems to be no one common thread but varied causes, including an increase in suicide risk from farmers during the drought, homeless people/those at risk, mental illness and poverty/disadvantage.

Apart from the genetic/chemical causes where there is the inexplicable 'brain switch' for depressive episodes and risk of suicide, there are some situational crisis that also lead to suicide.

Youth are probably more at risk due to the pressures of growing up while trying to find out who you are and what you stand for - separate and in addition to the medical complications.

I do think there is some increase in youth depression for social reasons as well as medical; or at least it exacerbates the medical, similar to what Cornflower suggests above.

Poirot, I am sure your son will thrive under your tutlelage and care. There is too much of assembly line nature of education and narrow academic results-oriented mentality particularly for kids who don't fit the standard mould.

One article I read suggested that suicide rates have actually fallen somewhat, the highest period being during the Depression era and that was when formal statistics were less rigorous. It is difficult to know the real figures when suspected suicides are put down to vehicle accidents in some cases.

I am not sure how emotional wellbeing classes can help - too much depends on the calibre of the presenter/counsellor. But in some cases it may be just what the doctor ordered. We need to ask young people what concerns them and what they need to help them when the black dog hits.

Dear Pelican,

I watched an interesting program recently on the ABC. Kevin McCloud (Grand Designs) visited and stayed in the huge Mumbai slum, Dharavi.
There are one million people living there in one square mile. They basically live on a tip - and mostly support themselves by recycling waste from the rest of Mumbai - particularly by the retrieval of plastic (there are 400 plastic recycling plants in the slum).
This sort of urban poverty was breathtaking, yet Kevin stressed that the community which had sprang up was well-balanced, had almost no crime - the people kept their immediate surrounds in good order...and to him they seemed relatively "happy".
It is difficult to perceive that people living in what seems to be such a desperate and appalling situation could be happy, however, it seems that the organic nature of their community and cooperative structures give them the sense of human connection that they need...food for thought.

The way I see it, there are two types of mental illness. Natural mental illness caused by a breakdown of the brains neural network. These people have no control over what's happening to them. No different to having the flu. Go to the doctor.

The other type I perceive as self inflicted. The cause is pure selfishness. They want their own way & when they can't get it, get depressed. They go looking for sympathy & get it. They get what they want. They only want to "talk" about their problems not "fix" them. They learn that if they, "bung on a turn," it gains a reward. Usually in the form of the sympathy of their peers. This then becomes self emolating. It becomes a rewarding habit. Like a drug it has a short period of reward then the "down" sets in. For this type, either "fix" the problem or remove your self from the Gene Pool.

Here is an interesting talk. It's a comedian but what he has to say is so true. Even my wife agrees. http://www.wimp.com/thebrain/

Searching: I may have seriously contemplated suicide in the past, but this does not mean I am not a valuable person to society.

? Does it. What have you personally achieved for the good of society?

The key to beating Mental illness is "ATTITUDE" Yours! You can "talk" about it or you can "fix" it. The ball is in your court, it's up to you & you alone.

All these Social Workers are just keeping themselves in a job. they are not interested in YOU. They are there for you for a shoulder to cry on & express sympathy, not "fix" the problem.

By the way I have been diagnosed with PTSD & I know what it is & I recognise that what I "feel" is just "crap." I don't go looking for a sympathy fix. I don't abuse people. I don't go looking to take advantage of the problem. I "fix" the problem whenever it arises.

ATTITUDE & a willingness to FIX the problem. That IS the key.

Dear Searching,
sorry if my post was a bit of a dog's breakfast, but I think you got the gist.

Dear Yabby,
no I am not "guessing"; in fact I'm going to elaborate the thesis for a journal article. As I said above, it is "not unprecedented"; I already have texts to back me up and believe I can make a very strong case that the conventional scientific community is doing what it typically does; delimits research to within "normal" parameters, that is the "existing" political/social paradigm.
In a similar vein, you are in the habit of dismissing everything I say as driven by political doctrine, when in fact I'm a sceptic through and through. Yet, on the other hand, you never question the orientation from which you derive your own "common sense", but defend it to the hilt.
Of course if we are to credit the scientific community, we must accept that humanity, per se, is afflicted with a nearly universal psychic pathology. 20% in any one year translates to a likely large majority in the course of say a generation.
Buy shares in pharmaceuticals!

Dear Poirot,
with four kids currently in school I'm appalled at the miserable education they get, but even more horrified at the automated propagation of a bankrupt morality adults barely even pay lip service too. I'm certain you're doing your son a great service in shielding him from it.

Dear Squeers,

We simply look at things from totally different perspectives.
You focus on the philosophical, I focus on how the mind works.
For the mind is, what the brain does and that is organic,
there are no ghosts in the machine.

But in the end, neuroscience will trump philosophy.
For philosophy is mostly guessing.

ATTITUDE & a willingness to FIX the problem. That IS the key.

JayB, I agree with the above statement. But there are times when the blackdog takes you unawares.

How have I contributed to society JayB?

I have raised 3 healthy children to adulthood.

I work in aged care, caring for some of the most vulnerable people in society.

I participate in my workplace agreement and assist staff with work related problems.

I am on an industry committee which will formulate policies for the aged care industry.

I work and pay my way.

But best of all, I participate in the life of my dear grandson.

Is that enough participation JayB.

I have met those people who wear you out with their never ending problems. For whatever reason they dont appear to be able to get beyond the problem to the solution. Their perception may be different to mine, but it is no less real for them.