Is Depression A Fatal Illness?
Depression must be thought of as a potentially fatal illness. Friends and relatives may be deceived by the casual way that seriously depressed people speak of suicide or self-mutilation. In Fact, these types of comments need to be taken very seriously every time they are heard. They are not casual because to the depressed person, the pain from self-harm seems no worse than the mental pain they are already suffering. Any comment such as, “Everyone would be better off if I were gone,” or “I wish I could crawl into a cave and roll a stone over the entry,” is a serious warning sign that the depressed person must be taken to a professional who can monitor them. A formulated plan, such as, “I’m going to jump in front of the next car that comes by,” means that this is an emergency and immediate professional help is needed, which may require hospitalization.
