tl;dr: Suicide is not a simple topic. Trying to pretend it is cut and dry will never help.
I know that your flists must be saturated with discussion and comments about Robin Williams, depression, and suicide. And while I don't particularly like entering into those conversations in a widely public forum, I feel that I need to say something in this case.
I have just finished reading an article by Matt Walsh, which I would prefer not to directly link because of linkbaiting, about how depression is more of a spiritual issue, the medical causes being, it seems, inconsequential in the "curing" of it, how suicide is always the individual's choice, and a selfish, horrid one that can have no redeeming reasons or results. He mentions peripherally that he too has struggled with depression, and so, presumably, has the authority to tell everyone else what it is and what it is like and how to "cure" it. I would like to address some of these views, so please, if you can, read what I have to say.
I will refrain from voicing my opinions about Mr. Walsh's struggles with depression, not knowing him or his life experiences. What I will say is that, generally, unless you have gone through a period in your life when you are incapable of not thinking about suicide, you cannot accurately expound upon the subject from a first person perspective. If you haven't, even when you are having a happy moment, laughing and otherwise carefree with those closest to you, been able to silence the background noise in your mind about suicide, then you probably shouldn't discuss it as if you have. If you haven't for some prolonged period gone to sleep thinking about it, eaten thinking about it, exercised thinking about it, worked, played, had sex, laughed, cried, done any and everything in your life, with a continual and immutable background noise or whisper of the want, need, or seeming obligation to commit suicide, then perhaps you should take a moment to consider what you are about to say.
It is much like field amputations in that way, I would imagine. You can think on it, research it, even witness it. But unless you have directly experienced it happening to you, you cannot possibly be able to accurately describe or expound upon what that experience is like.
In his article, Mr. Walsh talks about how killing oneself is a universally despicable choice that people make. And while it is indeed, always a choice made by a person, it is rarely a choice made by a person in a sound and rational state of mind. No, it cannot happen without a person doing something active, but that does not mean that they are mentally capable of thinking of any alternatives. It is exceptionally rare for people to kill themselves while content in knowing that it will negatively impact those people around them. Sometimes that knowledge will even prevent the action, at least for a time. But all the same, people still do it because they are not able to think of anything else they could possibly do to make their pain end.
As for the choice to kill oneself being a universally selfish and despicable thing, I would like to point Mr. Walsh, and everyone else, to the discussions and opinions on the subject put forth by Sir Terry Pratchett.
And clinical depression itself, as far as I have been able to tell from experiencing it first, second, and even third hand, is no more or less spiritual than any other disease or condition. It can and will vary from person to person in that way, but in the end it will always be caused by a significant imbalance of hormones and chemicals within your brain and body. Whatever process or action or inaction you decide is the most appropriate way to address and handle that is your own choice.
I am deeply sad that there still seems to be such a wide misunderstanding of these problems, and hope that through rational discussion and implementation of open-mindedness that will change so that people in need of help can get it.
I have just finished reading an article by Matt Walsh, which I would prefer not to directly link because of linkbaiting, about how depression is more of a spiritual issue, the medical causes being, it seems, inconsequential in the "curing" of it, how suicide is always the individual's choice, and a selfish, horrid one that can have no redeeming reasons or results. He mentions peripherally that he too has struggled with depression, and so, presumably, has the authority to tell everyone else what it is and what it is like and how to "cure" it. I would like to address some of these views, so please, if you can, read what I have to say.
I will refrain from voicing my opinions about Mr. Walsh's struggles with depression, not knowing him or his life experiences. What I will say is that, generally, unless you have gone through a period in your life when you are incapable of not thinking about suicide, you cannot accurately expound upon the subject from a first person perspective. If you haven't, even when you are having a happy moment, laughing and otherwise carefree with those closest to you, been able to silence the background noise in your mind about suicide, then you probably shouldn't discuss it as if you have. If you haven't for some prolonged period gone to sleep thinking about it, eaten thinking about it, exercised thinking about it, worked, played, had sex, laughed, cried, done any and everything in your life, with a continual and immutable background noise or whisper of the want, need, or seeming obligation to commit suicide, then perhaps you should take a moment to consider what you are about to say.
It is much like field amputations in that way, I would imagine. You can think on it, research it, even witness it. But unless you have directly experienced it happening to you, you cannot possibly be able to accurately describe or expound upon what that experience is like.
In his article, Mr. Walsh talks about how killing oneself is a universally despicable choice that people make. And while it is indeed, always a choice made by a person, it is rarely a choice made by a person in a sound and rational state of mind. No, it cannot happen without a person doing something active, but that does not mean that they are mentally capable of thinking of any alternatives. It is exceptionally rare for people to kill themselves while content in knowing that it will negatively impact those people around them. Sometimes that knowledge will even prevent the action, at least for a time. But all the same, people still do it because they are not able to think of anything else they could possibly do to make their pain end.
As for the choice to kill oneself being a universally selfish and despicable thing, I would like to point Mr. Walsh, and everyone else, to the discussions and opinions on the subject put forth by Sir Terry Pratchett.
And clinical depression itself, as far as I have been able to tell from experiencing it first, second, and even third hand, is no more or less spiritual than any other disease or condition. It can and will vary from person to person in that way, but in the end it will always be caused by a significant imbalance of hormones and chemicals within your brain and body. Whatever process or action or inaction you decide is the most appropriate way to address and handle that is your own choice.
I am deeply sad that there still seems to be such a wide misunderstanding of these problems, and hope that through rational discussion and implementation of open-mindedness that will change so that people in need of help can get it.