Print this
Email thisNews Archives
2011
To print or email this article, click here.
The stigma around seeking help for depression is not limited to those outside of the mental health profession. As the New York Times recently reported, Dr. Marsha M. Linehan, the creator of a treatment used worldwide for severely suicidal people, struggled with facing her demons for years.
To print or email this article, click here.
“What drives people to harm themselves, and how best to dissuade them from doing so, remains a mystery, says professor of psychology Matthew Nock. ‘More people die by their own hand than by someone else’s’—suicide is more common than homicide. ‘It’s a huge societal problem, a huge clinical problem, a huge research problem, and we know so little about it.’”
Read more in the Jan-Feb 2011 issue of the Harvard Magazine.
2010
To print or email this article, click here.
Our friend Dan Lukasik, who runs Lawyers With Depression, recently featured a blog concerning law school students and depression. You can find his article here.
To print or email this article, click here.
Read this incredible review for “The Kids Grow Up”, a gripping film made by friends of the Foundation.
To print or email this article, click here.
A study of 3,265 college students who have utilized campus counseling services has shed light on the increase of mental illness, as well as the use of psychiatric medications within this demographic. This analysis investigated the prevalence of “mental disorders, suicidal thoughts and self-injurious behaviors” through the years 1997-2009. Though the percentage of students who admit to suicidal thoughts within two weeks of counseling decreased over time (from 26% in 1998 to 11% in 2009), the rate of students suffering from depression increased (from 34% to 41%), as well as the use of psychiatric medications (from 11% to 24%). Recently, many organizations have been founded with the mission of supporting college students affected by mental illness. Active Minds, a past Dave Nee Foundation grant recipient, which now has 271 chapters, is one of the organizations credited with making efforts to help students. Active Minds’ founder, Alison Malmon, received a Leadership Award at the Erasing the Stigma Leadership Awards banquet.
More information about this study can be found here.
To learn more about Active Minds, click here.
To print or email this article, click here.
Lawyer and distinguished psychology expert Dan Bowling is conducting a research study designed to examine the impact of a law school student’s personality on academic success, as well as their well-being. Bowling plans to use his findings to assist students as they begin to make life changing career decisions. By working with both incoming law students and law graduates, Bowling will also examine whether character traits influence the specific career choices they have made, hypothesizing that “unhappy lawyers are mismatched with their careers.” Bowling offers a piece of advice for all law school students, which is to learn the ability to momentarily disengage from the “thinking like a lawyer” mentality.
To read more about Dan Bowling’s upcoming study, click here.
To print or email this article, click here.
In 2008 Jordan Burnham, who suffered from severe depression, jumped from his family’s 9th floor balcony. Though his intentions were to end his life, Burnham survived the 90 foot fall. As a suicide survivor, Burnham has reevaluated his life and now hopes to prevent other teens who are suffering from depression from making the nearly fatal mistake that he made. Working with the advocacy group Active Minds, the Foundation’s 2007 inaugural grant recipient, Burnham helps teens understand efficient coping strategies and available treatment options for depression.
More information on Burnham’s work can be found here.
To print or email this article, click here.
The South Washington County School District is currently petitioning to increase funding for student mental health programs after two high school students committed suicide. The proposed plan suggests increasing care by an additional $50 per student (approximately $800,000). Addressing these health issues in a school setting is believed to help students whose emotional health is interfering with their schoolwork. Supporters believe this funding is necessary to ensure that all students’ needs are met.
The complete article can be found here.
To print or email this article, click here.
In a recent CNN.com article, several people who have attempted suicide share their advice about how to help a friend who is contemplating suicide. Alexis Moore, a second year law student, courageously describes her own suicide attempt and passes along valuable words of wisdom regarding how someone who is having suicidal thoughts may respond to a friend taking action on their behalf.
The full article can be found by clicking here.
To print or email this article, click here.
The Wall Street Journal Law Blog directs its attention to the link between the isolation many attorneys face in their own legal practices and how that isolation may lead to depression and suicide. The article points out that “[o]ver the years, attorneys have become more isolated from their peers. If you are a solo or small firm practitioner, practicing law can be a very lonely existence.” Several explanations are presented as to why this may be and a lengthy discussion has formed in the comments to the blog entry.
For a direct link to the blog click here.
To print or email this article, click here.
In a review of ABC’s new series, “The Deep End,” Alex Williams goes beyond a simple analysis of the show and addresses the reality facing many attorneys at large law firms, including the risk of depression inherent in big firm practice that has been exacerbated by the recession. Dan Lukasik of lawyerswithdepression.com, a friend of the Foundation, is quoted in the article.
The whole article is available here.
To print or email this article, click here.
According to a recent study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately half of Americans with major depression do not receive treatment for the condition, and in many cases, the therapies people do receive are not consistent with the appropriate standard of care.
The results were published in the January issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, a journal of the American Medical Association. The work was also funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Aging.
More details on the study can be found on msnbc.com or by clicking here.
2009
To print or email this article, click here.
A new federal law, the Mental Health Parity Act, will take effect for most insurance plans on Jan. 1, 2010, that is targeting increased coverage for mental health. As the economic crisis continues mental health issues are becoming a bigger concern in two major ways. First, stresses over one’s financial situation have exacerbated preexisting mental health problems. And second, due to decreased earnings, more people are foregoing treatment in order to save money. In a recent article for MSNBC, health writer JoNel Aleccia discusses how the recession has taken its toll on the nation’s mental health. Ms. Aleccia’s article, “Suicides in the downturn raise worries about recession’s real cost”, can be found by clicking here.
For a brief review of the Mental Health Parity Act please visit the New York Times article by Leslie Alderman entitled, “In Anxious Times, Medical Help for the Mind as Well as the Body“.
To print or email this article, click here.
ABC News reports that the government will provide a cash infusion to dozens of crisis call centers that operate as part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. In the past several months these call centers have reported record increases in distress calls. “In July alone, the nationwide Lifeline network of 140 local call centers answered 57,000 calls — more than it’s ever received in one single month.” For more details and to read the full article please click here.
To print or email this article, click here.
The American Bar Association is currently offering an MP3 download of a program entitled “What Lawyers Need to Know About Suicide During a Recession: Prevention, Identity and Law Firm Responsibility.” The program is offered FREE of charge and can be downloaded here.
To print or email this article, click here.
Leigh Jones, associate editor for The National Law Journal, provides an anecdotal account of how job losses have been affecting young lawyers. Ms. Jones reports that “[l]ast month alone, an estimated 1,100 attorneys lost their jobs at major law firms, which means that the market is choked with highly educated former associates whose severance is running out and whose bills are piling up…
For the first time in their lives, many of these lawyers are struggling with a profound feeling of failure. And while they acknowledge that their troubles are just a part of the jobless scene nationwide, such perspective provides little comfort for these high achievers who are grappling with a loss of purpose and direction.”
The rest Ms. Jones’ article, entitled “Laid-off lawyers find themselves adrift”, as published March 9, 2009, in The National Law Journal, can be found here.
To print or email this article, click here.
Karen Sloan, staff reporter for The National Law Journal, reports on an increase in demand for lawyers assistance program as the economy worsens. For instance, “[t]he Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program had its busiest month on record in April. The organization, which helps attorneys deal with problems like depression and substance abuse, had 42 new referrals — nearly twice the monthly average in 2008.
The phenomenon isn’t limited to Illinois. Across the country, lawyer assistance programs are seeing demand for their services grow as the economy struggles.”
The rest of Ms. Sloan’s article, entitled “Depression stalks the legal profession”, as published May 4, 2009, in The National Law Journal, can be found here.
To print or email this article, click here.
As reported by the blog, Life at the Bar, Michael Cohen, the Executive Director of Florida Lawyers’ Assistance, cites several startling statistics in his presentation on substance abuse and mental health issues facing members of the Bar. Mr. Cohen (whom Nee Foundation Board Member Wynne Kelly has had the pleasure of hearing speak), is a dynamic individual who fearlessly and honestly shares his personal story of substance abuse to young lawyers. Mr. Cohen, in a speech heard by Life at the Bar a few years back, shared these statistics:
15-18% of attorneys will have substance abuse problem vs. 10% of general population.
Over 1/3 of attorneys say they are dissatisfied and would choose another profession if they could.
Attorneys have the highest rates of depression and suicide of any profession.
The entire post from Life at the Bar is available here.
To print or email this article, click here.
Below is a recent article written exclusively for our website by Dr. Regan Stanger. Dr. Stanger is a member of the Board of Advisors for the David Dawes Nee II Foundation. She is also a Clinical Psychiatrist specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry and is currently training at the New York Psychoanalytic Institute. Dr. Stanger is in private practice in New York City.
“Really?” is a common surprised response when I inform an adolescent or young adult that he/she is suffering a clinical depression. As a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist in private practice, I have the unique perspective of observing how depression presents itself across the decades of life. Not only can the symptoms of depression present somewhat differently at various ages, but a person’s awareness of their illness can also be quite variable. Children almost never self-diagnose depression, whereas older adults often present with a chief complaint of “I’m depressed”. But the young adult hovers somewhere in the middle. The young adults often greet me with complaints of “I’m anxious”, “I’m having a hard time”, or “I don’t feel like myself”. They frequently do not recognize that they are suffering from the medical illness of depression.
Mood disorders often present for the first time in late teen years and early twenties. The reasons for this are plentiful. Not only is there a likely biological component to the emergence of symptoms at this age, but it is an time of tremendous upheaval and transition. There is potential social isolation as the young adult leaves family, friends, and a familiar community. Managing newly found independence can be overwhelming. For the first time, a young adult may be living with a roommate, buying their own food, or planning a daily schedule. Without parental oversight, young adults may begin to experiment with drugs or alcohol. If a young adult enters college or graduate school, they may be faced with profound academic stressors.
Clearly, it is a time in life when people may be more vulnerable to developing a mood disorder. However, the young adult may never have experienced a depression before, and can find the symptoms unfamiliar and bewildering. Most people understand that sadness and suicidal thinking are hallmarks of depression. However, there is a myriad of other symptoms that can indicate depression, many of which people may not be aware of. The societal stigma associated with depression can influence someone to view themselves as anxious, or “just having a hard time”. For these reasons, I wanted to describe in detail the symptoms of depression that are included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). My hope is that this description will further clarify the symptoms of depression, so that people suffering from depression (or their family and friends) can have a better understanding of this illness.
Someone suffering from depression suffers from a low mood most of the day, nearly every day. This is a painful state of mind, often characterized by hopelessness. People may experience frequent tearfulness and feel overwhelmed by their emotions. One patient told me, “I feel so much pain and disappointment that it seems like too much to deal with”. A depressed person will observe happy people around him and feel as though it is impossible for him to ever feel that way. A depressed person may feel like they are a burden to others, especially family members or friends. For this reason, they may be reluctant to share their emotional experiences, further isolating themselves. There may be cyclical shifts in mood throughout the day; this can lead people to believe that they are not truly depressed because they feel a bit better at certain times of the day. One young woman complained of feeling very sensitive, that she would burst into tears at the slightest frustration or disappointment.
With depression, there is a diminished interest in activities. I find that this often occurs because people feel that any task is a monumental effort. The daily routine feels overwhelming. People become socially isolated because all socializing feels like too much of an effort. This is one sign that friends may notice. People become more withdrawn, may spend much of the day in bed, watching TV, or sitting in front of the computer. People complain of feeling stuck, and contemplate fleeing their current situation with hopes that their emotional state will improve. I often hear people with fantasies of quitting their jobs or quitting school. Weekends are difficult; time passes too slowly and people find that they begin to dread the weekends. I often hear the complaint that people are “going through the motions”, without deriving any noticeable pleasure or satisfaction from their lives. Often, people with depression are able to function at a fairly normal level, although they feel miserable. This may lead them to believe that they are not be depressed.
I often hear about changes in appetite and weight. Depressed people often lose weight because they lose their appetite or feel that food no longer tastes good. I also see people gain weight because they are unable to make the effort to purchase or prepare healthy foods. They also use unhealthy foods as a reward for getting through the day.
People with depression may have either insomnia or increased sleep. Insomnia can present with difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, or early morning awakening. Insomnia can cause people to feel exhausted during the day. It can also create anxiety, as people worry about how the lack of sleep will affect them the following day. Patients also tell me that sleep feels like their only escape; this can lead to increased sleep throughout the day. People with depression often have trouble getting out of bed because they wake up and immediately feel dread about facing the day. Fatigue is an obvious result of sleep disturbance. Poor sleep (either insomnia or increased sleep) can cause someone to feel incredibly lethargic. This is another symptom that family and friends may notice in someone who is depressed.
Depression can also affect a person’s energy level. Some people develop agitated behaviors: pacing, restlessness, fidgeting. On the other hand, some people seem more slowed and lethargic. Their movements may seem as though they require more effort. One woman told me that it felt like an effort to even raise her arms above her head to get dressed in the morning. Again, these are symptoms that can be observed by others.
Patients may complain that they feel worthless. They expect that the rest of their lives will be pointless. They despair they will ever have academic, romantic, or professional success. I also hear people complaining of feeling guilty. The guilt may be related to experiences in the past or may occur for no tangible reason.
Depression can also impact one’s concentration and ability to make decisions. People complain that their memory seems poor, that they have trouble reading. This can be a significant problem for a young adult in school or starting at a job.
One of the most troubling symptoms of depression is the recurrent thought of death or suicide. People sometimes have thoughts of hoping to go to sleep and not wake up. They may have fantasies of being hit by a car or developing a life threatening illness. The most serious type of suicidal thinking is formulating a plan to harm oneself. If someone expresses this type of wish, they must seek immediate medical attention and should be taken to an emergency room. However, all types of suicidal thinking should be taken very seriously and indicate that someone must seek treatment as soon as possible.
There are other symptoms of depression that are not listed in the DSM-IV but are frequently seen in practice. For example, I often find that anxiety accompanies depression. People find that they are worried and nervous. They often ruminate, which means that they think about worries or negative experiences over and over again. I frequently see people who go over events from their past repeatedly, wondering if they should have done something differently.
I also see people increase their use of alcohol and drugs in an attempt to alleviate the pain of depression. People often use alcohol in particular to alleviate anxiety. This is obviously problematic for many reasons, but one significant issue is that alcohol and drugs can worsen depression and anxiety. This is another symptom that family and friends may notice.
It is imperative that young adults be educated about this illness so that they can recognize the symptoms in themselves or friends. It is also tremendously important to know that depression can be successfully treated with psychotherapy, medication, or both. If you or someone you care about is suffering from the symptoms described above, I strongly encourage that you seek treatment for yourself or for your loved one. I have seen countless patients suffering tremendously from depression who, with treatment, have overcome this terrible illness.
To print or email this article, click here.
Recent Suicide Screening Study shows that a proactive approach to screening for suicidal tendencies identifies issues that may otherwise be missed. The Foundation is proud to be involved in these screening endeavors through its relationship and sponsorship of TeenScreen.
NEW YORK (Reuters) – School-based suicide screening can identify students at risk for suicide and other mental health problems not recognized by school professionals, new research suggests…. (The remainder of the article can be found here.)