WHY PEOPLE GIVE UP ON LIFE -YOU CAN FIND HELP

Facing Underlying Problems

As noted in the preceding article, researchers say that 90 percent of those who committed suicide had psychiatric disorders or substance-abuse problems. Hence, Eve K. Moscicki, of the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health, says: "The greatest hope for preventing suicide in all age groups is the prevention of mental and addictive disorders."

Sadly, many who suffer such disorders are not inclined to seek help. Why not?  Because there is a strong prejudice in society," comments Yoshitomo Takahashi of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Psychiatry.  He adds that as a result, even people who are vaguely  aware that they are unwell hesitate to seek immediate treatment. 

Some, though, do not let shame stop them.  Hiroshi Ogawa, a well-known television announcer who has hosted his own show in Japan for 17 years, acknowledged  publicly that he suffers from depression and has been on the verge of suicide.  "Depression is likened to a common cold of the mind," Ogawa said. Anyone can come down with it, he explained, but recovery is possible.  

Next time: WHY PEOPLE GIVE UP ON LIFE - YOU CAN GET HELP/Talk to Somebody

From the Awake! magazine