Tragically, depression has again left grieving parents without a son. Marie Osmond’s 18 year-old adopted son Michael Blosil jumped from his apartment last night in downtown L.A. killing himself. Michael’s suicide note described a young man who professed he had no friends and was a social outcast.
Michael had struggled with severe depression and in 2007, at age 16, he went to rehab however reasons were not revealed.
In less than ten days two high profile cases of suicide had direct depression links. Last Thursday, Andrew Koenig, who played “Boner” ‘on ‘Growing Pains’ hanged himself from a tree in Vancouver’s Stanley Park Thursday after battling depression for several years.
It is extremely sad to hear about deaths by suicide, especially complications related to depression. As we have depression covers all demographics, ethnicity, gender and race. Nevertheless, White men have the highest rate of suicide among all groups who suffer from depression.
Although the two cases illuminate depression in our society, many unknown sufferers live in turmoil daily with depression. Consequently, the symptoms of depression are misdiagnosed by friends and family members more often than realized. Andrew Koeing and Michael’s families were aware of their depression struggles and were unable to help their sons.
Suicide warning signs are seen in 75% of suicide deaths. However, some depression patients demonstrate no signs of a pending suicide attempt. If you see the signs of depression, you may be more informed than the person. Untreated depression is the number one cause for suicide!
Depression Suicide Warning Signs:
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- Appearing depressed or sad most of the time.
(Untreated depression is the number one cause for suicide.) - Talking or writing about death or suicide.
- Withdrawing from family and friends.
- Feeling hopeless.
- Feeling helpless.
- Feeling strong anger or rage.
- Feeling trapped — like there is no way out of a situation.
- Experiencing dramatic mood changes.
- Abusing drugs or alcohol.
- Exhibiting a change in personality.
- Acting impulsively.
- Losing interest in most activities.
- Experiencing a change in sleeping habits.
- Experiencing a change in eating habits.
- Losing interest in most activities.
- Performing poorly at work or in school.
- Giving away prized possessions.
- Writing a will.
- Feeling excessive guilt or shame.
- Acting recklessly.
If someone you know suffers from depression and talk of suicide:
Call the suicide hotline Call 1-800-SUICIDE , 1-800-784-2433; Call 1-800-273-TALK / 1-800-273-8255 or get them to the hospital, do not believe they will get better.
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Has it been determined yet whether the suicide was after a telephone made by Nancy Grace of CNN to his home where she may have berated him to the point of considering suicide, because she’s in federal court right now for doing that to another victim?
I am not sure if such a telephone call occurred before the suicide. Hopefully, such a sad event would not have proceeded his untimely death.
The truly sad thing is that too few taxpayer dollars go to mental health services. With all the focus on bodily health, our mental health is given the short shrift. However, as the Taoist sages tell us time and again, our self is a comprehensive system. If one aspect of that system is out of balance, the whole system suffers.
Rambling you are so right. Our body is connected with multiple parts, mental health is one of those parts. The stigma of mental illness may have a large part in the deficit observed in mental health funding as you mentioned. I am not sure of the federal funding allocation, however, I hope mental health can receive more support nationally. Unfortunately, only when tragic episodes following a mental illness event does it make front headlines. (Only for a few days)