Your Mind Your Body

Guest post by Dr. David Palmiter, clinical psychologist in Clarks Summit, Pa.

“But why would he ever commit suicide?”

How many times have we heard a question like this being asked after a young person commits suicide? The questioner often follows up with facts about the person’s life that support their question: “He was so good and well-liked. “She was a straight-A student and president of the student union.” “He was such a great ball player and teammate.”  “Life was so great for him; he had his whole life ahead of him, and he had everything to live for!”

Recently released studies have reported an increase on college campuses in the number of students with severe mental illness, such as depression, which is often linked to suicide.

Times like National Suicide Prevention Week are so important because they allow psychologists like myself to make some key points. Here, I want to make four of them.

1. Less determinative of mood is what happens in a person’s life. More determinative of mood is what a person thinks about what happens. It surprises many people to learn that happiness researchers report that only about 10 percent of our happiness is based on the circumstances of our lives. This is why winners of the lottery return to whatever their happiness was before they hit the number within a year. If I think I’m in a prison with no escape, even if I’m actually in Shangri La, I feel like a prisoner.

2. Depression and other mental illnesses attack how we think. As Stephen King noted: “Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win.” Depression is a vicious and pernicious, lying liar that convinces its victim that everything is terrible; its the victim’s fault and nothing can be done about it. When depression convinces its victim that the resulting misery is permanent, suicide starts feeling like a rational choice.

3. Very effective treatments are available! There are many myths about counseling and therapy, but research has shown time and time again that it works for depression. For instance, cognitive behavioral therapy teaches people how to recognize the enemy within, how it attacks and how to effectively defeat it. While it may not be possible to kill the depression, it is usually possible to cage it so that its victim feels healed. You can use this locator service to find a psychologist. To read about common myths about counseling click here.

4. Oct. 7 is National Depression Screening Day. All across the country an army of qualified volunteers will be offering free, anonymous and quick screens for mood disorders. Early identification can be key in preventing mood disorders from advancing to the point that suicide feels like a rational choice. To find a location near you click here.

Dr. David Palmiter is a clinical psychologist practicing in Clarks Summit, Pa. and a professor of psychology. His blog can be found at www.hecticparents.com. He is on Twitter @HelpingParents.

Photo by  jonny (via flickr)

Filed under: Being in Therapy, Lifestyle & Behaviors, Resilience, Stress