If the thought of McCain, Obama, or Clinton being our next president is making you depressed...
"Remember democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide."
John Adams, letter to John Taylor, April 15, 1814
FACTS:
Mental disorders are common in the United States and internationally. An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older - about one in four adults - suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. When applied to the 2004 U.S. Census residential population estimate for ages 18 and older, this figure translates to 57.7 million people. Even though mental disorders are widespread in the population, the main burden of illness is concentrated in a much smaller proportion - about 6 percent, or 1 in 17 - who suffer from a serious mental illness. In addition, mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and Canada for ages 15-44. Many people suffer from more than one mental disorder at a given time. Nearly half (45 percent) of those with any mental disorder meet criteria for 2 or more disorders, with severity strongly related to comorbidity.
Over 32,000 people in the United States die by suicide every year. In 2005 (latest available data), there were 32,637 reported suicide deaths.
Suicide is fourth leading cause of death for adults between the ages of 18 and 65 years in the U.S., with approximately 26,500 suicides.
Currently, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States.
A person dies by suicide about every 16 minutes in the United States. An attempt is estimated to be made once every minute.
Ninety percent of all people who die by suicide have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder at the time of their death.
There are four male suicides for every female suicide, but twice as many females as males attempt suicide.
Every day, approximately 80 Americans take their own life, and 1,500 more attempt to do so.
Depression Facts/Statistics
Clinical depression affects about 19 million Americans annually. It is estimated to contribute to half of all suicides. About 5%-10% of women and 2%-5% of men will experience at least one major depressive episode during their adult life. Depression affects people of all races, incomes, and ages, but it is three to five times more common in the elderly than in young people.
Prevention
People who have risk factors for depression should be "screened" regularly by their health-care provider. This means that when they see their health-care provider, questions should be asked that might indicate depression.
If identified early, those who are at risk for depression are more likely to benefit from treatment.
Getting Help: Support Groups and Counseling
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call 800-SUICIDE.
Additional information about depression can be obtained from these organizations:
I created a website www.votestrike.com for you, the voters, because, whichever party you belong to they have failed you.
The website has the ambitious goal of ending the two party system & the third party myth. Modeled after the fall of the Berlin wall, the Polish overthrow of the communist government, and the Phillipine removal of Marcos. All of this was accomplished without firing a shot.
About the author: I'm uneducated, my opinion means nothing but I know that I'm a real good dancer.
I've found that a black hatred coupled with immediate activism is a help. Direct action with signs on street corners is far more powerful than pulling a lever in a bogus election. Vote anyway. Just don't swallow the mental cool aid.
by
John Hanks (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1379 comments)
on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 1:15:21 PM
Being depressed about those presidential choices and commiting suicide because of it? Sort of the spoiled child reaction of if I don't get what I want when I want it then the worst I can throw out into the world is warranted. Baby steps. Being happy for small successes. Taking joy in the good that can be found rather than dwelling on the evil. Look for the good. It is here in the world even if not in politics.
Sort of shocked me to see an article about suicide coming out of a title about being depressed over the political choices. Those people who jumped when their stocks tanked in the Great Depression had that kind of short sighted view. When depression lets in that darkness of suicidal thoughts just turn away and demand in yourself that there is good and you will find it. Happiness is your right. Humans do joy better than any other species. Work on it.
McCain would really dig this hole deeper but Hillary and Obama might just sit in it and not dig it deeper. They might be able to find/accept a way out. One can hope. Hope will keep you going through the worst of times. If it pans out, great. If not, keep hoping anyway.
I think this economy coming out of the politics of corruption is what might make people jump, but I think that is because of the loss of what they had and maybe because of how that makes them look as far as successful or not and to that I say - Other people's opinion of me is none of my business.
by
ljs (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 55 comments)
on Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 5:42:56 PM
2 comments
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