The world has always been filled with human tragedies,but with science and technology many humans are far better off than the cave folk or the Bubonic Plague sufferers.

Our major problem is that the world is over populated.Perhaps disease will solve this problem since humans seem incapable of addressing it.Even if half the world's pop dies,life will go on.It is no use in stressing about a nuclear holocaust,or a space asteroid destroying us. We all will die one day anyway.

Too often we can lassiviate in our negative thoughts since it is easier not to act than do something positive.

While there are people with real depression problems,many of us can solve it by getting on with life.It isn't going to get better just worrying about it.A good dose of survival can cure many of us in a negative frame of mind

QUOTE: Depression is a health crisis that is experienced by one in four teenagers. More money definately needs to be spent on the mental health system.

RESPONSE: Your public commitment to give more money to this cause is most noble. You can fufill your public pledge at the following link: http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=11

Once again thankyou for your generosity. And if you feel that enough money still has not been given you can visit the website a second time and donate again: http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=11

Thanks Redneck for the apology for including me with you list of targets. Seeing as though i have been mentioned on this forum, I may as well add my two cents worth.

Depression is just one of those things which people like to have. almost a trendy illness to say you have something wrong with you. It probably relates to the pessimistic nature in a lot of people.

"Medicine has all but eliminated TB, polio, small pox, I'm not getting sick anymore, surely I can't be that healthy, Oh that's right, I'm depressed."

I agree with Terje, too many people think themselves into depression. They should do something constructive with their time like playing sport or learn ballroom dancing. (don't barrack for Souths or Richmond though, that is a sure way to increase depression).

In a way, I blame the unions. When people were working 70 hour weeks, there was no time to be depressed.

How about all these well-off people who feel depressed use their spare time volunteering for charity, where they meet people who could truly have a reason for being depressed but are always grateful for what they have got.

I'd recommend a stint doing meals on wheels and seeing the smiles on the old duck's faces when you give them a plate of hot soup on a cold day. Brightens you up I can tell you and makes you feel more than pleased with what you have got.

t.u.s

I was heavily campaigning against Jeff Kennett the Premier of Victoria, but can only congratulate him for what he is doing with BeyondBlue.

Some people are stronger then others, and we all react different to a crisis.

At times, people calling me when they are in a crisis then often they make known (after a lengthy conversation) that after all their life isn’t that bad. Not because I tell them so, but because when I explain problems of others they realize for themselves they have it better then they had been aware off.

That why I maintain that to “LISTEN” to another person may be more important then to give our money.

People generally need someone to talk to, and who listen, and when they talk, and talk, and talk. (Mind you one person contemplating suicide called at 9.30 pm, and continued till about 6 am, the next morning, calling notably long distance! And, weeks later, when this person received the phone bill, he phoned me, and made clear that it was the best way he ever had spend his money! No, it was not some 1900 or 1902 number, as I use only ordinary phone connections, without receiving a cent out of it.)

Next time you see some poor person sleeping on a bench or in the park you could consider to ask the person if he/she would like to join you for a cup of coffee or meal (at your cost of course).
You might just find that, even if they refuse it, at least you tried to do the right thing.

Just keep in mind that no matter what your current financial status might be, beyond your fault you could be one of them in a short time, as we all face this unpleasant future pending what crooks may use as their weapons to achieve this.
If just we showed we cared for others, we by this already would reduce “depression” by many as they would be aware that they are still part of our society and not have to feel abandoned.

Just try it

To Mr Terje.

If one in four Australian teenagers has depression then I suspect it is because of their high ingestion rate of controlled substances. The link between routine drug abuse and "depression", especially with marijuana, is common knowledge.

Instead of asking responsible people to chip in money to fund programs to mitigate the detrimental effects of drug abuse, why don't you campaign to stop drug abuse by teenagers? Attack the cause, don't ask me to finance the cure.

The promotion of drug abuse by "Youth culture" leaders has got to stop. If we as a nation can understand that allowing tobacco companies to advertise their wares will condemn hundreds of thousands of teenagers and adolescents to partake in a dangerous and highly addictive drug, why can we not make the same connection with pop stars endorsing drugs abuse?

Conrad,
Superb, compassionate and moving article, rather wasted, it seems on some of its readers.
For people who have never experienced depression, or dislocation, I suppose it is understandable to take that brisk, pull-your-wanky-socks-up tone, but it is utterly useless. Depression takes you over, like grief, when I suffered it (in my 20s), I would have given anything to be able to pull-my-socks-up, but, while I functioned on the outside, it was in a grey and empty world. I found no joy in anything. A counsellor helped me, a husband who loved me helped me but it wasn't until I began to understand that I was taking my own energy that was being unused in the outside world and turning it against myself, that I started to improve. Now, I monitor my feelings more closely, if I start to feel low, its important to increase the things that occupy and challenge me. When I start to feel anxious, its time to decrease them.
Now, I am depressed by the society I find myself in, its lack of compassion, its veneration of winners and hatred of losers, but that is a different kind of depression. It doesn't deplete me, it energises me. Hate something, change something. Psychological depression is when you hate yourself, and that is what you've got to change, but, sometimes, particularly when you are depressed, that seems harder than changing the world.