The Stigma of Depression - Helping a Suicidal Person

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The Stigma of Depression

Don't turn a cold heart to depression.

Helping 3 - Stigma

A Cold Heart for Depression ?
Don't "Believe in" Depression ?
Heredity - Are Your Kids At Risk ?

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If you can't "believe" in depression and the pain they feel - Convince Yourself !

In the general population, these emotions are not seen as valid, are not validated, not accepted, not possible...

What is it that you don't believe ?

that the feelings are real ?
that they are bad enough to cause suicide ?
that anyone has ever committed suicide ?
that someone in your family could actually commit suicide?
that no one has ever been taken completely by surprise when the family member they didn't take seriously committed suicide ?

What Do You Believe ?

that not acknowledging their depression will make it go away ?
that being judgmental and critical will make them feel like staying alive ?
that life with cold and ignorant human beings will seem worth living ?
that they are just using their feelings to manipulate and will just kill themselves to control you or get their way ?
that people with depression are weak and deserve to die and should just go ahead and do it ?
and when you say things like that to them it will snap them out of it and make them want to live ?

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If this is your attitude, then this is the first step in assisting the suicide of your loved one - not believing that they would kill themselves !

"It can't happen to my kid."
"He/she is just a brat..."
"He/She just wants attention..."

Isn't giving our attention to each other what love is all about ?

Even as adults, we want attention from those who love us too, don't we ?

If you love this person and want them to live - YOU are the one who needs to "snap out of it."

Go thru my sites, other depression sites - read what depressed and suicidal people would be reading, and Suicide Survivor Sites - see how those people feel now that their loved one is gone! This could be you.

Don't let your judgment, stubbornness, and ignorance of the reality of depression, suicide, and stigma prevent you from acting with love and compassion before tragedy strikes.

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Heredity - Is your family at risk ? Are Your Kids At Risk ?

Look around you. Is there any kind of depression in the genetic line ?

Does someone else in your family have any kind of mental health problems, or take drugs, any alcoholism, or behavioral problems, excessive anger or violence or the obvious - any suicides ?

Sometimes we really don't know the family history. It's time to ask - what about you, your spouse, aunts, uncles, grandparents, great grandparents.

Women, you could have an undiagnosed depressive husband and not yet know it, then your teen or child is in danger because you don't know the family history.

An unhappy person is highly suspect no matter what else is going on. A person who is always grouchy, always irritable, easy to anger or overly sensitive - is highly suspect for having undiagnosed depression.

Open your heart - do you want them to die ?
Show them the same compassion you would if they were diagnosed with cancer or in a car accident.
Show them your love, the sorrow you would feel if they died.
Show them their life has meaning - to you!

Show them your fear, and your helplessness, and ask, how can I help you. Let's do this together.

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The Shame & Stigma of Depression

Special Alert for Men

SuicidalTeens

------------------------ Other Sites to Visit ------------------------

Judgmental Language That Promotes the Stigma
Associated with Suicide - a must read !!

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Helping 1 - Understand and Believe