Posted by wishingstar on January 29, 2007, at 15:19:13
In reply to Re: 'Not always a cry for help' -, posted by muffled on January 29, 2007, at 13:40:00
Interesting article. That's great that their program has been so effective. But I'm not sure I agree with all (most) of his beliefs about what it means to be suicidal. His program obviously worked, but I'm wondering if the reasons for it working arent exactly what he is assuming.
He suggests that the fact that students dont come for counseling after an attempt shows that it isnt really a cry for help. Thats possible, but I think he may be ignoring huge issues here. For instance, can the student afford it? Is he/she embarrased? Too afraid of the stigma attached to therapy? Afraid of trusting someone they dont know (a counselor)? Afraid their parents will find out? There are all kinds of factors that keep people away. I'd say that many people who attempt suicide may be people who naturally have trouble reaching out for help when they need it or when things start to get bad, and that's how it escalates into a suicide attempt. (Of course thats by no means always true, but I think it can be). I also think (and have no evidence to back this up, just an idea) that rates of suicide attempts in college students may be higher than normal to begin with, not because of higher rates of major depression, but because of the demands of college - moving away from home for the first time, school and time demands, etc - things that pass quickly. For that group, who probably doesnt have a significant ongoing mental illness, I think suicide is absolutely a cry for help. A "this is way too much, I cant handle it all" cry, which sometimes resolves itself by a few days in the hospital or a medical scare related to an attempt. I'd be interested in seeing some data about the characteristics specific to this group of students. I just dont believe that it's really about power and control in as many students as he's suggesting it is.
One other thing I found very interesting was when he mentioned that some students cite the times they were suicidal as being bright spots in their lives. I dont understand this at all and I dont really know what it means about the student or their situation, but I'd love to get that.
I dont mean to rip this apart. There were things I agreed with in the article too, but I just wanted to comment on that. Perhaps I'm a little hypersensitive because I'm not far out of college myself and personally, my own issues were not as he described. Oh well. Something to think about. Thanks.
poster:wishingstar
thread:727737
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20070119/msgs/727775.html