Posted by EmmyS on January 17, 2004, at 9:48:22
In reply to news reporting on suicide, posted by badhaircut on January 17, 2004, at 8:29:06
I'm really glad you posted this topic. I've lost several family members to suicide, and frankly...it really stinks.
Recently there were 2 unrelated suicides locally which occured in a small town on the same day. The small town paper published this news, and printed the names of the 2 people who died. There was a huge uproar regarding the fact that their names were printed. Of course this is because of the stigma and shame regarding mental illness. People assumed that the surviving family members would be ashamed that their family member probably had a mental illness.
Personally, I don't see depression as anything more shameful than heart desease or diabetes. With meds and therapy, depression can be successfully treated. Unfortunately too many people go undiagnosed, untreated, undertreated, or are get lousy treatment! Can you tell this irks me?
I've had to deal with the affects of the stigma of mental illness in my family for 35 years. Things have improved over the years...but not nearly enough.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has been working for a long time on the topics of reducing stigma and assisting the press in reporting on suicide. It's a great organziation. www.afsp.org
Emmy (I've obviously had way too much coffee)
poster:EmmyS
thread:301950
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040116/msgs/301966.html