EDITORIALS
Depression, Suicide and Loneliness depression illness, IS reaction? How an
how
normal is it and
or a
common
What provokes suicide, or an attempt towards it? Can relieving loneliness mitigate depression and diminish suicide? These are some of the questions which need to be answered by anyone who sets out to help the depressed, or Unto instruct others how to do so. fortunately not all the answers are known, and even those that are, are not
disabling?
widely disseminated.
We can therefore recommend our readers to obtain a copy of the exceland lent pamphlet Depression Suicide*, published by the Mental Health Research Fund which gives all the answers it can.
Layman's dilemma It is difficult for the layman to know what he can do: he is on the horns of a dilemma, for if he fails to comfort or support the depressed his neglect may make them worse: while if he interferes with acute psychiatric problems (as has been told) he may drive them over the borderline into "insanity" or suicide. With this problem unresolved, it is small wonder that lay attempts to deal with such cases have, in the past, been spasmodic and short-lived. Recently however, there has grown up the Samaritans' organisation in London and this is gradually spreading. There are now 25 branches in Britain alone, and others in Bombay,
Karachi, Istanbul.
Hong
Kong,
Salisbury,
Mexico City, Kyoto and We are many cities in the U.S.A. glad to publish reports on its work in Bournemouth and Camberwell as well as an account of the aims of the *Copies are available from the Mental Health Appeal, 8 Wimpole Street, London, W.l; the first copy is free of charge except for 4}d. postage. Additional copies are Is. 4?d. (post free).
130
parent body written by its founder the
Reverend Chad Varah. There can be no doubt from these that much misery has been alleviated ?' and the figures from Bournemouth give some idea of how much can be done, and how much waits to be done, in a town which is not regarded as
especially
depressing.
Certainly
for the growth of the Samaritans' services in other places. But there is no full answer here: the actual suicide rate in Bournemouth there is
was
not
room
significantly altered, though
the rate of attempts was. And one symptom of depression is to withdraw' from everyone and to refuse to seek help: so that many cases, will always slip through the network of helpers* however close the mesh. Obviously the lonely are more likely to do so.
Pathological depression
Though some grief is the lot oi every human being, pathological de~ pression is not, and we must admit that there is no clear agreement amoflS psychiatrists as to the latter's causes. Some blame the repression of aggre? sion over years, others postulate 3 "e biochemical change. Both may true. But there is general agreeme? on the remarkable results obtained some patients by drugs, and in even more by electroplexy, whose action is not yet fully understood. Tn effect of certain types of leucotomy 1 preventing further attacks of depression is also on record. It is therefore essential that
^
aI1^
severely depressed patient shall hav^ medical advice; and the layman haS clear duty to persuade him to go ^ '
his doctor that
true
as
soon
some
as
general practitioners do stand
^
possible.
patients
not
u
.
tn
feel .
L,
with depressiv. While this may have been true in or
sympathise
Past, it must be only very occasiontrue now, with changes in medical education on the one hand, and bombardment through the post every day by pharmaceutical chemists on the other. Early treatment with drugs or electricity has certainly saved many People's lives. But the friends and relations of the Patient can do more than get him to See his doctor. They can provide sympathy, distraction and hope, as the Samaritans are obviously doing. Even while the patient is under treatment he may still be at home, and there are S\>U many hours between the doctor's
ally
v'sits
or
treatments.
Suicide
Law
The changes in
our English law on be welcomed, and all those concerned deserve congratulates (many members of the NAMH them). But some people fear that not to regard suicide as a crime remove the brake and so allow a eNV more people to commit suicide
s^icide
'V^ong
jy'U
are
to
than before. This seems unlikely, for suicide never was a crime in Scotland : but if it be true at all it deserves an answer?which is surely to try to replace the brake lost in this way by another in the shape of hope. It is by no means easy to instill hope into the depressive?his gloom may infect his friends. Bunyan, who must have known the condition at first-hand?and had also been in prison?wrote feelingly of Giant Despair in Doubting Castle. The patient does not always seem to notice the comfort given by his friends?and if he does, he contradicts and opposes their suggestions, and, most trying of all, seems to take a perverse pleasure in doing so; perhaps it is the only pleasure he has left, to wallow in the Slough of Despond, in another of Friends and Bunyan's allegories. relations may need each other's support to get him out and to give hope; for hope can be confidently expressed, and the prognosis in depression is
mostly good.
Depression, Suicide and Loneliness depression illness, IS reaction? How an
how
normal is it and
or a
common
What provokes suicide, or an attempt towards it? Can relieving loneliness mitigate depression and diminish suicide? These are some of the questions which need to be answered by anyone who sets out to help the depressed, or Unto instruct others how to do so. fortunately not all the answers are known, and even those that are, are not
disabling?
widely disseminated.
We can therefore recommend our readers to obtain a copy of the exceland lent pamphlet Depression Suicide*, published by the Mental Health Research Fund which gives all the answers it can.
Layman's dilemma It is difficult for the layman to know what he can do: he is on the horns of a dilemma, for if he fails to comfort or support the depressed his neglect may make them worse: while if he interferes with acute psychiatric problems (as has been told) he may drive them over the borderline into "insanity" or suicide. With this problem unresolved, it is small wonder that lay attempts to deal with such cases have, in the past, been spasmodic and short-lived. Recently however, there has grown up the Samaritans' organisation in London and this is gradually spreading. There are now 25 branches in Britain alone, and others in Bombay,
Karachi, Istanbul.
Hong
Kong,
Salisbury,
Mexico City, Kyoto and We are many cities in the U.S.A. glad to publish reports on its work in Bournemouth and Camberwell as well as an account of the aims of the *Copies are available from the Mental Health Appeal, 8 Wimpole Street, London, W.l; the first copy is free of charge except for 4}d. postage. Additional copies are Is. 4?d. (post free).
130
parent body written by its founder the
Reverend Chad Varah. There can be no doubt from these that much misery has been alleviated ?' and the figures from Bournemouth give some idea of how much can be done, and how much waits to be done, in a town which is not regarded as
especially
depressing.
Certainly
for the growth of the Samaritans' services in other places. But there is no full answer here: the actual suicide rate in Bournemouth there is
was
not
room
significantly altered, though
the rate of attempts was. And one symptom of depression is to withdraw' from everyone and to refuse to seek help: so that many cases, will always slip through the network of helpers* however close the mesh. Obviously the lonely are more likely to do so.
Pathological depression
Though some grief is the lot oi every human being, pathological de~ pression is not, and we must admit that there is no clear agreement amoflS psychiatrists as to the latter's causes. Some blame the repression of aggre? sion over years, others postulate 3 "e biochemical change. Both may true. But there is general agreeme? on the remarkable results obtained some patients by drugs, and in even more by electroplexy, whose action is not yet fully understood. Tn effect of certain types of leucotomy 1 preventing further attacks of depression is also on record. It is therefore essential that
^
aI1^
severely depressed patient shall hav^ medical advice; and the layman haS clear duty to persuade him to go ^ '
his doctor that
true
as
soon
some
as
general practitioners do stand
^
possible.
patients
not
u
.
tn
feel .
L,
with depressiv. While this may have been true in or
sympathise
Past, it must be only very occasiontrue now, with changes in medical education on the one hand, and bombardment through the post every day by pharmaceutical chemists on the other. Early treatment with drugs or electricity has certainly saved many People's lives. But the friends and relations of the Patient can do more than get him to See his doctor. They can provide sympathy, distraction and hope, as the Samaritans are obviously doing. Even while the patient is under treatment he may still be at home, and there are S\>U many hours between the doctor's
ally
v'sits
or
treatments.
Suicide
Law
The changes in
our English law on be welcomed, and all those concerned deserve congratulates (many members of the NAMH them). But some people fear that not to regard suicide as a crime remove the brake and so allow a eNV more people to commit suicide
s^icide
'V^ong
jy'U
are
to
than before. This seems unlikely, for suicide never was a crime in Scotland : but if it be true at all it deserves an answer?which is surely to try to replace the brake lost in this way by another in the shape of hope. It is by no means easy to instill hope into the depressive?his gloom may infect his friends. Bunyan, who must have known the condition at first-hand?and had also been in prison?wrote feelingly of Giant Despair in Doubting Castle. The patient does not always seem to notice the comfort given by his friends?and if he does, he contradicts and opposes their suggestions, and, most trying of all, seems to take a perverse pleasure in doing so; perhaps it is the only pleasure he has left, to wallow in the Slough of Despond, in another of Friends and Bunyan's allegories. relations may need each other's support to get him out and to give hope; for hope can be confidently expressed, and the prognosis in depression is
mostly good.
