Our thoughts are with the family of legendary comedian Robin Williams. Depression is a serious medical illness affecting more than 14 million American adults every year, but the condition is treatable and help is available.
Suicide is linked with people who have a history of depression or other mental illness or have been hospitalized for psychiatric problems. Unemployment and increased stressors such as isolation, a change in marital status or loss of a loved one often intensify the depression.
According to SIU psychiatrist Dr. Jeffrey Bennett, suicide or threatened suicide is considered a psychiatric emergency and always should be taken seriously. “Often people with suicidal ideas are reluctant to seek treatment because of the stigma involved in having a mental illness in this culture,” Dr. Bennett says. “Family members will not do a disservice to someone who is stating they want to commit suicide by bringing them to an emergency room if they are concerned enough about the presence of suicidal thoughts, or if the person has past history of suicide attempts.”
Dr. Bennett recommends anyone with suicidal thoughts, severe depression or other psychiatric symptoms be seen by their primary care physician or a mental health counselor, who may refer them to a psychiatrist for further evaluation and treatment.
For about 30 percent of people suffering from moderate depression, medication doesn’t work. For them, a promising new therapy has the potential to reduce or eliminate their symptoms: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). This non-invasive, non-systemic treatment uses focused, electromagnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain. To read more about how this therapy is helping patients handle severe depression. http://www.siumed.edu/pubs/aspects/W10/s3.pdf
The National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255; operators are available 24/7.