TogetherWeHaveHope

ClassE:Then&NowProject
Howard/RuppelTeam
HighTechHighNorthCounty
SanMarcos,CA

PartI:
Introduction

2
Introduction
Suicidenotonlyaffectsthepeoplethatdiebecauseofthisissueitalsoaffectsthepeople
thatknowthepersonthatkilledthemselves.Thethingisnobodyiswillingtoaddresssuicidebut
wearewillingto.
Thethingaboutthissubjectisalotofpeopledontrealizehowbigofanissuethisis.
heressomefactsthatshowthatsuicideisactuallyabigissue.Currentlysuicideisthe10th
leadingcauseofdeaththatthismayseemlowisbecausethat'sonlythepeoplethatfullycommit
tosuicide.anotherreasonthatmakesitalotlowerthanitshouldbeisbecausewellonlyonein
every25peopleonepersonattemptstocommitsuicidethereasonthisseemssohighisbutthe
actualdeathrateis12inevery100,000peoplekillthemselves.Themainexcuseforsuicideis
thattheyareusuallyaredonebecausetheyaresayingthattheyaretoomuchworkfortheir
familiesanexamplethattheyarewrongisthatthegovernmenthasspent44billiondollars
annuallyonpreventiontopreventitandcleanup.Mendietosuicide3.5timesoftenthanfemale
becausethemethodsthatmenuseareusuallyusingaremoreguaranteedmethodssuchasguns
whilefemalesdohaveahigherattemptratebutthewaytheycommit`suicideisusuallywith
poisonorotherwaysthataren'talwaysguaranteeddeaths.
Onaverageeachdayatotalof117peopleendupendingtheirlifeeachdaydueto
suicide.Theracethathasthehighestdeathratecurrentlyisinmiddleagewhitemalesthereason
thisisbecausemanypeoplethinkisduetoracismcausingstressintheirliveswhichleadsto
depressionandsuicide.Evenbackingupthelaststatementmorebackin201370%or7of10
suicideswerewhitemales.Thetotalamountofpeoplethatcommitsuicideyearlyisalmost
nearly30,000andthatisjustinAmericans.IntheU.S.,suicideratesarehighestduringthe
spring.Suicideisthe3rdleadingcauseofdeathfor15to24yearoldsand2ndfor24to
35yearolds.Onaverage,1personcommitssuicideevery16.2minutes.Eachsuicideintimately
affectsatleast6otherpeople.
Mostteenagerandyoungadultsdiefromsuicidemorethancancer,heartdisease,AIDS,
birthdefects,strokes,pneumonia,influenza,andchroniclungdisease,allcombined.InjustUS
alonethereisaaverageover5,400attemptsbyjustyoungerchildrentoteenagers.Suicideisthe
10thleadingcausefordeathintheUS.Suicideratesasyetagainincreasedto12.1per100,000,
comparedtosuicideratesfrom19902000was12.5suicidesper100,000whichthendecreased
to10.4per100,000neartheyear2000.Depressionisaverybigcauseinsuicideandnearly
affects20%25%ofamericanseveryyear.Suicidetakesthelivesof38,000Americansevery
year.InAmerica,80%90%Adolescentsseektreatmentfordepressionandaretreated
successfullyusingtherapyand/ormedicationwhichisactually
1in100,000childrenages10to14diebysuicideeachyear,7in100,000youthages15
to19diebysuicideeachyear.(NIMH).12.7in100,000youngadultsages2024diebysuicide
eachyear.
Theprevalenceofsuicidalthoughts,suicidalplanningandsuicideattemptsis
significantlyhigheramongadultsaged1829thanamongadultsaged30+.Suicideisthe2nd

3
th
leadingcauseofdeathfor15to24yearoldAmericans.Suicideisthe4
leadingcauseofdeath
foradultsages1865Thereasonthatthisisbecausethosearethestressfulagesoflife.The
highestincreaseinsuicideisinmales50+(30per100,000).Suicideratesforfemalesarehighest
amongthoseaged4554(9per100,000).Suicideratesformalesarehighestamongthoseaged
75+(36per100,000).Suicideratesamongtheelderlyarehighestforthosewhoarelovedones
leftthem.

Overview
Thisactionplanhasfourmainsections:History,PresentDay,ScienceandConclusion.
ThefirstsectionwillbeonHistory,anditwillbedetailingthreegenresofhistory.Oneof
thesecategoriesisglobalhistory,whichpertainstostatisticsoncountriesallaroundtheworld.
Thenationalhistorysectionwillstatestatisticsfromacrossthecountry,andlocalhistorywill
providemorestatisticsonsuicideinSanDiego.Therewillalsobeinformationonhowpeople
fromothertimeperiods/placessawsuicideandwhattheirperspectiveswereonit.Thelast
componentofthissectionwillhighlightregardsfactsonhowwecanlearnfromthisinformation
ofhistoryofsuicide.
InthePresentDaysection,therelevanceofsuicidewillbediscussedtoday,aswellas
howitsaffectingourSanDiegocommunityspecifically.Inaddition,statisticsonwhysuicide
happensandfocusingonmentalillnessesandlivingconditionswillbepresented.Otherstatistics
thataregoingtobeshownincludeinformationregardinghowmanypeopleinSanDiegosuffer
withmentalillnessesandselfharm.Lotsofsuicideratesarealsogoingtobehighlighted,
showingwhattheylooklikeandinformationonwhytheyaregoingup.Also,suicideratesfor
CaliforniaandSanDiegospecificallywillbeexhibitedbecauseitsdifferenteverywhere.

4
TheSciencesectionwillincludemore
technicaldatathananyothersectionintheaction
plan.Therewillbeinformationonthescience
behindmentalillness,depression,anxiety,and
bipolardisorderamongothers.Inaddition,there
willbeparticularsonifthere
isacureformentalillnessesoratreatmentforit,
andhowmentalillnessesaffectpeopleintheir
dailylives.
Thefourthandlastsectionwillbethe
conclusion,whichwillbemainlytalkingabout
solutionsandgoingtodepthaboutthem.Therewill
besolutionsfocusedonhealthyalternatives,and
solutionsincludingsupportandawareness.Our
projectintentionsandsolutionswillalsobediscussed..
Thepointofthisactionplanistoraiseawarenessandhelpfamiliesthathavechildrenor
familymembersgoingthroughdepressionand/orothermentalillnesses,andhavehadsuicidal
thoughts.Thisistohelpthoseinneedofhelp,becausesometimeshelpisneeded.

PartII:
History

6
GlobalHistory
Whenonethinksofthehistoryofsuicide,heorshemightthinkofthefirstpersontoever
actuallycommitsuicide.Thewordsuicidecomesfromtwolatinwords:Suiofoneselfand
cidiumkillingorslaying.Eachcountryhasitsownhistoryofsuicideandhowitstarted.For
example,Japanssuicidehistoryis
totallydifferentfromChina.Suicideisa
wellknownwordandtopic,butwhatwe
don'tknowishowitoriginatedfrom
eachcountry.
Whenwehearaboutsuicideorif
someonekilledhimorherself,we
usuallyareinshockorgetsadthata
personactuallytookhisorherownlife.
InJapan,itwascompletelydifferent
suicidewasacceptedandeven
encouraged.Samuraiwarriorswould
oftenkillthemselvestoavoidshame.
Japan'ssuicideactcametoAmerica's
attentionwiththeWorldWarIIkamikaze,whenyoungmendeliberatelyflewbombplanesinto
Alliedships.Japan'sancientSamuraicultureanditsBuddhistreligionsmakesuicideacceptable.
AmericansmayfindsuicideshamefulandnottolerablebutinJapan,suicideisanhonorableway
toalleviateshame.Inthemodernday,Japanislookingatsuicideassomethingperhapscaused
bymentalillness.Suicideiscurrentlybeingviewednotasanactofglory,butasthelastactof
despair.
SouthKoreawasonthetop10rankingsforthenationsthemostrecordeddeathscaused
bysuicideforalongtime.However,SouthKoreaandJapanhaveacompletelydifferentviewof
suicide.Japanpreviouslyviewedsuicideasawaytoshowhonor,whereasSouthKoreaviewed
suicideasawayoutfromsufferingwithschoolrelatedstress.
2003to2004data:
1. Lithuania
2. Belarus
3. Russia
4. Kazakhstan
5. Hungary
6. Guyana
7. Slovenia
8. Latvia
9. Japan
10. SouthKorea

7
Suicidedatesbacksincewecanimagine.Suicidehascamefrommanydifferentplaces
andeachplacehasthereonlyviewandstorywiththistopic.IntheMiddleAges,suicidewas
thoughttobefromDiabolicTemptation.Whenpeoplecommittedsuicidethepenaltyindoingso
wastohaveyourbodydraggedaroundthetownandhanged.Suicidestartedtochangeslowly
duringtheRenaissancetimesandpeoplecommittedsuicidewhenhavinganincurabledisease
andcouldFreehimselffromthisbitterlifesincebydeathhewillputanendnottoenjoyment
buttotorture...itwillbeapiousandholyaction.Itwasviewedmoreasawayofdiabolic
temptationandslowlythoughttobeanescapeoronlywayoutfromasickness.
InAncientGreece,suicidewasnotconsideredwrong.Suicidewasnotwrongonlyfor
tworeasons:whenitwaslegallyorderedbytheStateforpainfulandincurableillness,and
whenonewascompelledtoitbytheoccurrenceofsomeintolerablemisfortune.People
usuallycommittedsuicidebackthenduetohealthproblems.Whentherewouldbeanillnessthat
wasincurable,suicidewouldbetheanswer.Soldiersandslaveswerenotallowedtokill
themselves.SuicideamongtheearlyChristiansbecamereallypopularandthreatenedthe
existenceoftheChristianChurch.InthefourthcenturyAD,astrictprohibitionofsuicidewas
adoptedand,itbecameamortalsintodoso.
Herearethetoptenwayspeoplehavediedfromsuicide.
1. Shotguntohead
2. Cyanide
3. Gunshotofhead
4. Shotguntochest
5. Explosives
6. Hitbytrain
7. Jumpfromheight
8. Gunshotofchest
9. Hanging
10. Autocrash
Thosearethemostcommonandrecentwayspeoplecommitsuicidebutitwas
completelydifferentbackthen.InJapanHarakiri"and"Harakiriliterallymeaning
"bellycutting,"thewordforwhatisformallycalledseppuku"cutopenthestomach"fromhara
"belly"+kiri"tocut."Aritualofsuicide,associatedwithwarriorsintraditionalJapanesesociety
andrestrictedonlyforwarriors.Partofthesamuraihonorcode,seppukuwasusedeither
voluntarilybysamuraitodiewithhonorratherthanfallintothehandsoftheirenemiesorasa
formofpunishmentforsamuraiwhohadcommittedseriousoffenses,orperformedbecausethey
hadbroughtshametothemselves.Japanalsohadanotherwaytheirpeoplecommittedsuicide.
Thistypeofsuicidewasusedbackinworldwar2,itwascalledKamikaze,kamikazewasa
JapanesepilottrainedinWorldWarIItomakeasuicidalcrashattack.Anairplaneloadedwith
explosivestobepilotedinasuicideattack.Thebravesoulsintheplanesknewwhatwasthe
causeofbeingintheplanebutitwasasmartwaytomakealotofdamage.

8
LocalHistory
Overthepastdecade,thesuiciderateinCaliforniahasbeenconsistentlylowerthanthe
nationalsuiciderate.Between1999and2009,thesuiciderateinCaliforniaaveragedaround9.4
per100,000individualsnationalaveragesarearound11.1per100,000.
Arecentstudyshowedhalfoftransgenderpeoplehaveattemptedsuicideatleastonceby
theageof26.AsofOctober9thof2015,19transgenderpeoplekilledthemselvesthatyear.12
ofthe19wereteenagersandfourofthemwerefromSanDiegoCounty.ThosefourwereSage
David,TaylorAlesana,KylerPrescott,andEmmettCastle.
ThereisnotmuchinformationaboutSageDavidsdeath.SageDavidwasagenderqueer
personfromEncinitas,California.TheydiedbysuicideonMarch2,2015.
TaylorAlesanawasasixteenyearoldtransgendergirlfromSanDiegoCounty.Shewas
suspendedfromschoolfornamecallingwhenshecalledagirlhomophobicaftermakingrude
remarks.Whentheharassmentbecametoomuchforhertohandle,shedecidedto"gobackin
theclosetanddresslikeaboy."
"Beingtransgenderitsucksinalotofways,butI'mbeingmyself,"TaylorAlesana
said."AllIneedreallyismyself.Iamtheretolearnandgetadiploma.I'mnotthereto
socialize."AshortwhilelaterShecommittedsuicideinherhomeinFallbrook,California.
KylerPrescottwasafourteenyearoldtransgenderboy.HelivedinVista,Californiaand
attendedHighTechHighNorthCountybeforeswitchingtoanotherschoolforaveryshorttime
beforehisdeath.Kylerhadalotofsupportfromalmosteveryone.Kidsbullyinghimwerentthe
issue,ratheradultsnotunderstandingorusingimproperpronounscausedalotofproblems.His
lifestartedtoturnaround,butthenonEasterSunday,hecuthimselfafterhewasharassedonthe
socialmediasiteKik.Sixweekslater,afterthelossofseveralpets,helockedhimselfinhis
bathroomandkilledhimself.
EmmettCastlewasa14yearoldtransgenderboyfromMissionValleywhokilled
himselfonOctober2,2015.Whenhebegantransitioning,hisfamilyimmediatelyacceptedhim
andsuggestedthatheattendmeetingsattheHillcrestYouthCenterattheSanDiegoLGBT
CommunityCenter.TheHillcrestYouthCenteristheonlydropinandrecreationalcenterinSan
DiegoCountydedicatedtotheneedsofLGBTyouth.

HistoricalViewsonSuicide
Overtheyears,suicidehasbeeninterpretedbymanydifferentviewpoints.InAncient
Greece,suicidewasnotnecessarilyconsideredwrong,buttheyhadtohaveareasontotake
theirownlives:i.e.painfulorincurableillness,intolerablemisfortune,stronggriefduetoa
familymember,andtoavoidtortureandthedisgraceofrape.Doctorsthemselvesdidnt
approveoftheprincipleofsuicidesotheytreateditasinsanebehaviorinthedevelopmentof

9
thementaldiseases,ofmelancholiaandmania.1 Mostpeoplethoughtthatwomen,young
people,andelderlypeopleweremorelikelytoattemptsuicide.Especiallyfortheelderly,the
despairofthe[ability]inconjunctionwithphysicalillnessandcachexia,wereimportantfactors
forthesepeopletodecidetheesuicidal.
InAncientRome,suicidewasonlyforbiddenforslavesforeconomicreasons,and
soldiersforpatrioticreasons.TheRomanstypicallysupportedtheconceptofsuicide,butonly
undercertaincircumstances.Forexample,ifoneweretopreferdeathtodishonor,orhe/she
wantedtoavoidoldage.Similarto
theChineseculture,Romanswere
bigonhonor,soifyoubrought
dishonortoyourfamilyyouwould
mostlikelyturntokillingyourself.
Theonlypeoplewhowerenot
allowedtokillthemselveswere
slavesandsoldiers.Thismakes
sensebecauseassumedlyslaves
didntnecessarilyliketheirjobor
thefactthattheywereforcedinto
it.Therefore,ifalloftheslaves
killedthemselvestherewouldbenoonetodotheslavework.Samethingwithsoldiersifallof
thesoldierskilledthemselvestherewouldbenoonelefttofightwars.
CatholicsandChristiansbelievethatsuicideisasin.Butitdidnotalwaysusedtobelike
that.Infact,thereisnoactual
passageintheBiblestatingthat
suicideisasin.Thereligion
preachedofanamazingafterlife,
onesoamazingthatitsounded
waymoreappealingtotheliving.
Thismadesuicideverypopular
amongChristiansandCatholics,
threateningtheexistenceofthe
Church.So,inthefourthcentury
AD,Augustinepersuadedthe
Churchtoputaprohibitionon
suicide,thussuicidebecominga

"ResultFilters."
NationalCenterforBiotechnologyInformation
.U.S.NationalLibraryofMedicine,25Sept.

2014.Web.24Feb.2016.

10
2

mortalsin.
Thebigpicture:SuicidewasnotasinuntiltheChristianpopulationbeganto
diminish,thustheChurchmadeitlawthatifyoutookyourownlifeyouweregoingtoHellfor
thesin.
Ifyouthinkthatssurprising,waituntilyouhearaboutsuicideintheMiddleAges.Inthe
MiddleAges,suicidewasoftencausedbydespairormadness.Butifyoudiddieastheresultof
selfinflictedinjury,theconsequenceswerebrutal.Thebodywasoftendraggedthroughthe
streetwherethedeceasedhadlived,thenhung.Thedeceasedpersonsestatewasconfiscatedand
aChristianburialwasforbidden.Oftentimesthebodywasburiedatabusycrossroadsmeant
toconfusethespiritpinneddownbyastakeinthechest,thuspreventingthespiritfrom
hauntingorharassingtheliving.
IntheRenaissance,suicidestartedbecomingamoreopenlytalkedabouttopic.Many
differentphilosopherstalkedaboutsuicideintheirscriptures.PhilosopherslikeThomasMore,
MicheldeMontaigne,andDavidHumealltalkaboutsuicideintheirwriting.
Itwasntuntilthe19thcenturythatviewsonsuicidestartedtochange.Peoplethought
thatapersonwasonlyinsaneattheactualmomentofsuicide,ratherthanduringalloftheirlife.
3
Somesuicideswereconsideredaccidentsratherthanthepersonactuallybeinginsane.
GilbertandSullivans
Mikado
,in1885,satirizedtheideathatadeathsentenceshouldbegiven
foranattemptedsuicidebyhangingNankiPoofortryingtotakehisownlife.Alotofthe
4
religiouspenaltiesforsuicidewereevenabandoned.

WhatCanweLearnfromHistory?
Thepeopleoftodaycanlearnfromthehistorybythewaysuicidewasthoughtof,
explained,andperformed.InthetimesoftheancientGreeksandRomans,suicidewasdealtwith
amorerelaxedapproach.TheRomanshadanotherwayofseeingitalongwiththattheyhada
termcalledpatrioticsuicidedeath.Thatmeansthatitisanalternativetodishonor.Ontheother
hand,Greecehadathoughtthatdeathwasguaranteedapersonalfreedom.Inaddition,the
militarywouldhavebeenthoughtofdifferentlyifitweretohappentoday.Suicidewouldhappen
withdefeatinbattle.AnexampleofthisiswhentheCaesareanassassinsBrutusandCassius
killedthemselveswhentheylostatthebattleofPhilippi.Suicidewasneverageneraloffensein
lawinRometheapproachtoitsquestionwaspragmatic.IntheMiddleAges,aChristianchurch
wouldexcommunicatepeopleiftheyattemptedit,andiftherewasanyonewhohaddiedby
suicidetheywouldbeburiedoutsidegraveyards.Theattitudestowardssuicidewerechanging
duringtheRenaissance.ThomasMoremadeadifferencewhenhewrotethatapersonwitha
diseasecanfreehimselffromthisbitterlife.InEurope,suicidewasdecriminalized.Itwasnot
until1961thattheSuicideActadoptedinEnglandandWalesremovedthepenaltiesthatwere
2

Minois,Georges."HNetReviews."
HNetReviews
.Ed.ChandakSengoopta.HIdeas,July1999.Web.24Feb.
2016.
3
Cholbi,Michael."Suicide."
StanfordUniversity
.StanfordUniversity,18May2004.Web.24Feb.2016.
4
"ABRIEFHISTORYOFSUICIDE."
ABRIEFHISTORYOFSUICIDE.
Soars,2015.Web.24Feb.2016.

11
placedforthisdeed.IfoneweretoassistanotherpersonwithsuicidalactionsintheUK,itwould
beconsideredacrime.
Goingontomorerecentfacts,TheUnitedStatesisthe10thleadingcauseofsuicide
deaths.In2010therewere38,364suicidedeaths,andtheratesrosewhenthetimesoffinancial
stressandeconomicsetbackswereoccurring.

Thereareveryhighratesofsuicideinpeoplewithautismspectrumdisorders.Childrenwith
autismare28timesmorelikelytoattemptsuicidethanthepopulation.Thelargestincreaseof
suicidebygenderformaleswasages50+.Forwomenitwasages60to64.
Graphfrom2005,USA

Age

514

1524

2534

3544

4554

5564

6574

75+

All

Male

204

3489

4059

5053

5257

3241

1935

2603

25848

Female

68

713

922

1483

1719

954

403

448

6711

Both

272

4202

4981

6536

6976

4195

2338

3051

32533

12

PartIII:
PresentDay

13
Relevance
Suicideisthe10thleadingcauseofdeathamongAmericans.Morethan40,000people
diedofsuicidein2012.Theseratesaregettinghigherandhigherastheyearsgoby.In2008,
therewereatotalof358deathsbysuicideintheSanDiegocounty.Parentsandfriendscanhelp
preventsuicidewhentheyseetheirchild/friendshowingsomesignsofdepression.For
example,somesignsofdepressionareexcessivecrying,avoidingfriendsorfeelingalonewith
friends,changeinappetiteorweight,andgivingthingsawayamongothers.Ifyouknowanyone
thathasbeendisplayinganyofthesesignsyouhavetotakeitseriously.Notonlydoessuicide
affectthevictimbutitalsoaffectsthepeoplearoundthem.Researchshowsthatfriendsand
familythatknewsomebodythatrecentlycommittedsuicide,theireducationalprogressstart
dropping,drugsandalcohol,etc.
Suicideaffectspeopleinmanyways.It'sreallyhardtohandleknowingthatsomebody
youknewkilledhim/herself.SuicideisaffectingtheSanDiegocommunityinmanydifferent
ways.Therearedifferenttypesofbullyingintoday'ssociety.Thereisphysical,verbal,social,
andcyber.Allofthesetypesofbullyingcanleadtodepressionorsuicide.Suicideisthesecond
leadingcauseofdeathforages10to24.EachdayintheUnitedStatesthereareanaverageof
over5,400attemptsofsuicidebyyoungpeople.Accordingtonationaldata,4outof5teenshave
givenclearwarningsignsofdepression,andsuicide.
SanDiegohasbeentryingtopreventsuicideformanyyears.Beforeyougetonthe
CoronadoBridgethereisasuicidepreventionsignthathasthesuicidepreventionnumberthat
youcancallbeforesomebodytriestojumpoffthebridge.
Currentlysuicideisthe10thleadingcauseofdeath.Thisseemslowbecausethestatistics
keeptrackforthosewhofullycommittedtokillingthemselves.Oneinevery25peopleone
personattemptstocommitsuicidethereasonthisseemssohighisbuttheactualdeathrateis12
inevery100,000peopleactually
doit.Themainexcuseforwhy
peoplecommitsuicideis
becausetheysaythattheyare
toomuchworkfortheir
families,andbecausetheyhave
madeamistakeinthepast.The
governmenthasspent44billion
dollarsannuallyonsuicide.
Herearesomeinterestingfacts
onsuicideacrosstheU.S.:
Mendiebysuicide
3.5xmoreoftenthan
women.

14

Onaverage,thereare117suicidesperday.
TheRateofsuicideishighestinmiddleagewhitemeninparticular.
Whitemalesaccountedfor7of10suicidesin2013.
Nearly30,000Americanscommitsuicideeveryyear.
IntheU.S.,suicideratesarehighestduringthespring.
Suicideisthe3rdleadingcauseofdeathfor15to24yearoldsand2ndfor24to
35yearolds.
Onaverage,1personcommitssuicideevery16.2minutes.
Eachsuicideintimatelyaffectsatleast6otherpeople.
About2/3ofpeoplewhocompletesuicidearedepressedatthetimeoftheirdeaths.
Depressionthatisuntreated,undiagnosed,orineffectivelytreatedisthenumber1
causeofsuicide.
Thereis1suicideforevery25attemptedsuicides.
Malesmakeup79%ofallsuicides,whilewomenaremorepronetohavingsuicidal
thoughts.
1in65,000childrenages10to14commitsuicideeachyear.
Thereare2timesasmanydeathsduetosuicidethanHIV/AIDS.
Over50%ofallsuicidesarecompletedwithafirearm.
Suicidecanbepreventedinmanyways.Ifyourfriendorchildisshowingyousignsthat
canleadtosuicide(givingawaypossessions,talkingaboutdoingit,suddenlymoodswings,etc)
youneedtotakeactionquick.Thesesignsandmanymoreareseriousandcouldbeprevented.

Causes
Peoplecanbeledtosuicidefornumerousreasonsthatallfundamentallyrootbackto

depression.Depressioncancomefrommanydifferentsources,allofthembeingjustas
importantasthelast.Mostoftheissuesthatcancausementalillnessaretheresultofdepressing
events,physicalpain,livingconditions,andgeneralstatesofmind.
Thoughthereareveryfeweventsthat
cancausedepression,theycanstill
drasticallyaffectone'sstateofmind.
Theseeventsincludethedeathofofa
lovedone,adivorceorseparation,loss
ofjobhouseormoneyandlossof
custodyofchildren.Theseeventsare
notuncommon,butcancause
depression,andlatersuicideifitisnot
diagnosedandtreated.
Physicalpaincanmeantwothings,
eitherthepainofonesselforthepain

15
ofanother.Forexample,terminalillness,aseriousaccident,andchronicphysicalpain.Theseare
justafewexamples,buttheycanstillhavegreatimpactonapersonsstateofmind.Mostofthe
physicalreasonshavelesstodowithdepression,andsimplywantingtoendthepain.
Livingconditionscancanalsofindawaytoleadpeopletosuicide.Livingconditionscan
meananythingfromonesfinancialsituationtohowapersonistreatedbythosearoundthem.
Abuseofanykind,notfeelingaccepted,feelingtrapped,beingbullied,feelingtakenadvantage
of,beingvictimized,andfeelinghelpless,arealllivingconditionsthatcanleadanyoneto
suicide.
Evenwithallthesereasonsthatsomeonemightchoosetoendtheirlife,itallleadsback
tomentalillness.Ifamentalillnessofanykindgoesundiagnosed,itcanhaveseriouslongterm
consequences.

HowManyPeopleStrugglewithMentalIllness?
Formany,mentalhealthandself
harmmaynotseemlikesignificant
problems,asonemightseeitjustonthe
newseveryonceinawhile.However,
approximately1in5adultsintheUS
sufferfromamentaldisorder,whichis
relatively43.8millionpeoplejustinUS5 .
Thisisonlyonestatisticforthisrapidly
growingdisease,buthowmanymore
couldtherebe?
Herearesomefindingsthatdisplay
somestatisticsregardingmentalhealth:6
Thebiggesttakeawayfromthe
graphswasthatapproximatelythat1in5
youthlivewithamentalhealthdisorder.
Thisis21%ofthepopulation.Major
depressionisalsothe3rdbiggestreasonforhospitalizationintheUS.Thisrelatesbackto
suicideratesbecausesuicideisconnectedtodepression.About90%ofpeoplewhocommitted
suicidehadapreexistingmentalillness(suchasdepression)orsubstanceabuse.7Thiscreatesa
strongtiebetweenmentalillnessandsuicide,whichthenraisesthequestion,ifwewereableto
stopmentalillnesswouldsuicideratesdecrease?
Sincesuicideanddepressionarestronglyconnected,itwasimportanttodosomemore
researchontheconnectionbetweensuicideanddepression.Anestimated215%ofpeoplewho
5

https://www.nami.org/LearnMore/MentalHealthBytheNumbers
https://www.nami.org/LearnMore/MentalHealthBytheNumbers
7
http://www.save.org/index
6

16
arediagnosedwithmajordepressiondiebysuicide.8 Also,thosewhosufferfromdepression
alongwithanothermentalillnessareatahigherriskthanthosewhojustsufferfromamental
illness.Therefore,thosewhohaveamentalillnessaremorelikelythanotherstocommitsuicide.

WhatdotheRatesLookLike?
Suicidealonecosts$44billionannually.The
U.S.governmenthastospendalotofmoneyeverytime
someonekillshim/herself.Allofthatmoneycouldbe
goingtomoreeffectiveoutlets,butinsteaditisbeing
usedtocoverfortheseacts.Suicideisnumber10inthe
topleadingwayspeopledieintheU.S.
Nocompletecountiskeptofsuicideattemptsin
theU.S.however,eachyeartheCDCgathersdatafrom
hospitalsonnonfatalinjuriesfromselfharm.494,169
peoplevisitedahospitalforinjuriesduetoselfharm.
Peoplearesufferingsobadlythattheythinktheonly
waytogetoutistokillthemselves.
Suicidewasthetenthleadingcauseofdeathfor
allagesin2013.

Therewere41,149suicidesin2013intheUnited
Statesarateof12.6per100,000isequalto113
suicideseachdayoroneevery13minutes.
Basedondataaboutsuicidesin16National
ViolentDeathReportingSystemstatesin2010,
33.4%ofsuicidedecedentstestedpositivefor
alcohol,23.8%forantidepressants,and20.0%for
opiates,includingheroinandprescription
painkillers.

Suicideresultsinanestimated$51billionincombinedmedicalandworklosscosts.
Suicideisthe
SECOND
leadingcauseofdeathforages1024
SuicideistheSECONDleadingcauseofdeathforcollegeageyouthandages1218
Moreteenagersandyoungadultsdiefromsuicidethanfromcancer,heartdisease,AIDS,
birthdefects,stroke,pneumonia,influenza,andchroniclungdisease,COMBINED.
Onaverage,thereare
117
suicidesperday.
Theannualsuiciderateis
12.93per100,000
individuals.
Femalesattemptsuicidethreetimesmoreoftenthanmales.

http://depts.washington.edu/mhreport/facts_suicide.php

17
Thisisagraphthatshowsthedifferent
waysthatpeoplehavecommittedsuicide.
Obviouslydeathscausedbyfirearmsdominate
thegraph.Lookingatthisgraph,dyingby
poisonwasabigfactorandcontrolled17%of
thegraph.Herearesomemorestatisticsto
showhowsuicideneedstobefixed.
1in100,000childrenages10to14die
bysuicideeachyear.
7in100,000youthages15to19dieby
suicideeachyear.
12.7in100,000youngadultsages
2024diebysuicideeachyear.

ProminenceoftheIssue
Suicidehasbeenshowntobethethirdleadingcauseofdeathforyoungadultsaged
1524
.
TheJasonFoundationreportedthateverydaythereareover5
,
400suicideattemptsfrom

peopleaged12through18
.
Thismeansover1,800,000familiesandcommunitiesareaffectedby
theirchild'sactionseveryyear
.
Siblingsarecompletelydevastatedthatthepersonwhothey
sharedtheirentirelifewithisnowgoneandmayfeelisolatedbecausefewwillunderstandtheir
tightbond
.
Grandparentsareoftenveryc
l
osetotheirgrandchildrenandmayfeelconcernfor

theirownchildren.
.
Childrenofthevictimsareaffectedthemost.Selfesteemissueswillarisein
childrenofallagesduetoconfusionandgrief
.
Theymustdealwiththeirownpersonalgriefas
wellastheirremainingparents
.
Somefamilymembershavesuchsorrowandanxietythatthey
willalsotaketheirownlives
,
onlymakingmattersmuchmoreworse
.
Familiesofthevictimsaren'ttheonlyoneswhoareaffected.Manypopulartourist
destinationsareactuallypopularsuicidelocations.Forexample,theAokigaharaForest,also
knownastheSeaof
Trees,isinfamousfor
beingthemostpopular
suicidesiteinJapan,
whichhasclaimedover
60,000lives.Another
locationinthecapitalof
theCzechRepublicis
theNurseBridge,which
hasclaimedareported

18
300livesandhasbeengiventhenicknameSuicideBridge.Infact,suicidescausedbyjumping
offbridgeshavebecomesocommonthatguardrailshavebeenmadehigherandsuicidehotline
numbershavebeenplasteredoverthem.
Hotlineorganizationshavetalkedtocountlessamountsofpeoplethatwereattheverge
ofcommittingsuicide
.
OrganizationssuchasNationalSuicidePreventionLifeline,Second

ChanceInc.,NewHopeTelephoneCounselingCenter
,
andmanyothersoffer24/7supportto
anyonewhocalls.Persontopersoncounselingisofferedtoyouthatmostschoolsbytrained
therapists

ortoadultsforfreeatpublictherapyandtalkcircles.
Manypsychologistsagreethatunderstandingwhereaperson'sdespairisabsolutelyvital
tohelpingthem.Manymentalhealthissuesareextremelycomplexandhavedifferentcauses
suchas:AbreakupofarelationshipLosingalovedoneAserious/terminalillnessChronic
painLossofhopeAbuse,eitherphysical,mental,verbal,orsexuallowselfesteembullying
andsomanyothers.

CaliforniaSuicideRates
TheCaliforniasuicideratesbetween19992009forwhiteshoveredbetween9and12per
100,000.9ThestatessuicideratesforblacksandAsian/PacificIslandersarearoundhalfthatof
whites,rangingfrom5to7per100,000.AmericanIndiansandAlaskanNativeshavethelowest
suicideratesacrossallracialgroupsinCaliforniaat4per100,000.Thegraphtothelowerright
showsthatmalesfromallracesin20122013tooktheirownlife.Youngmalesaremorelikelyto
diefromsuicidethanfemales.However,femaleadolescentsaremorelikelytoattemptsuicide.
Between19992009,thesuiciderateinCaliforniaaveragedaround9.4per100,000.Thestate's
suicideforblacksandAsian/Pacific
Islandersarearoundhalfthatofwhites
rangingfrom5to7per100,000.
Suicideratesareconsistentlyhigher
amongthewhites.Youngmalesare
morelikelytodiefromsuicidethan
females,butfemaleadolescentsare
morelikelytoattemptsuicidethan
males.AmericanIndiansandAlaskan
Nativeshavethelowestsuiciderates
acrossallracialgroupsinCaliforniaat
4per100,000.
IntheU.S.alonethereisan
averageofover5,400attemptsbyjust

"ReducingtheBurdenofSuicideinCalifornia."
SuicideRatesinCalifornia:TrendsandImplicationsfor
PreventionandEarlyInterventionPrograms.
N.p.,n.d.Web.03Mar.2016.
9

19
youngpeoplebetweengrades712.InspringthesuicideratesarehigherintheU.S.

Forevery
olderteenandyoungadultwhotakeshisorherownlife,100200oftheirpeersattemptssuicide.
10

Onlyoneoffouryouthswhoattempt
suicideactuallygetsmedicalattention.
Suicideisthe10thleadingcauseofdeathin
theU.S.11Over50%ofallsuicidesare
causedbyafirearm.Suicideitselftakesthe
livesof38,000Americanseveryyear.Males
makeup79%ofallofindividualswhokill
themselves,whilewomenaremoreproneto
havesuicidalthoughts.Thegraphonthe
rightshowsthatfemalesaremorelikely
thinkaboutsuicide,attemptsuicide,and
requiremedicalattention.Thegraphabove
showsthatmalesdiefromsuicidemoreoftenthanfemalesdo.Onaverage,thereare177
suicideseveryday.Eachsuicideintimatelyaffectsatleast6otherpeople.Suicideisthesecond
leadingcauseofdeathfor15to24yearoldsandthirdfor24to35yearolds.12Onaverage,1
persontakestheirownlifeevery16.2minutes.Thesuicideratesarehighestformiddleaged
people,especiallyforwhitemen.Thereisonesuicideforeverytwentyfiveattemptedsuicides.

"TeenSuicidesStatisticsYelloDyno."
TeenSuicidesStatisticsYelloDyno
.19942007YelloDyno,Inc.,n.d.
Web.03Mar.2016.
11

"SuicideStatisticsAFSP."
AFSP
.N.p.,n.d.Web.04Mar.2016
12
"Save.SuicideAwarenessVoicesofEducation."
SAVE
.N.p.,n.d.Web.04Mar.2016.
10

20

PartIV:
History

21
DEPRESSION
Itswidelybelievedthatdepressioniscausedbyachemicalimbalanceinthebrain,butit
isactuallyrathercomplex.Therearetoomanychemicalsinthebrain,maybebillions,thatare
responsibleforallthedifferentwayspeoplereactandfeel.Researchsuggeststhattherearemany
differentcausesthatcometogethertocausedepression,someofwhichbeingfaultymood
regulationbythebrain,geneticvulnerability,stressfullifeevents,medication,andmedical
problems.Researchersbelievethatnervecellconnections,nervecellgrowth,andthefunctioning
ofnervecircuitshaveamajorimpact.13

GENES
Genesmakeproteinsthatareinvolvedinbiologicalprocesses.Differentgenesturnon
andoffthroughoutlifebutifthisprocessgetsmessedup,thenitcouldalterthebiologythatwill
affectmood.Stressfromworklikemissingadeadlineisenoughtoupsetthesystemina
geneticallyvulnerableperson.
Thehopeistofindawaytoidentifythegenesthatmakeindividualsmorevulnerableto
lowmoodswhichwouldhelpfordecidingthekindoftreatmenttheyshouldgothrough.Another
goalistobeabletoknowwhatfunctioneachgenedoessothatwecanlearnhowthebiologyand
environmentcometogethertocausedepression.Already,ithasbeenfoundthatpeoplewhohave
aspecificDNAsequencecalledG1463Aarewaymorelikelytobecomedepressed,butthereare
stillmanymoregeneswhosefunctionsareunidentified.14
In2003,researchersfoundthatpeoplewhoaremorelikelytogetdepressedoverstress
carryaparticularvariantinaserotonintransportergene(5HTT).Onefromeachparentis
inheritedanditcomesinshortorlongversions(moreorlessefficient).Peoplewhohavethe
shortgenearemorelikelytobecomedepressedafterstressfulsituations,andthosewhocarry
twoshortgenesareevenmorevulnerable.
DepressionandBPDrunthroughfamilies.HalfofpeoplewithBPDhaveafamily
memberwithsimilarpatternofmoodfluctuations.Inidenticaltwins,ifonekidhasBPDthenthe
otherhasa60%to80%chanceofdevelopingittoo.15Fraternaltwinsarelikebiologicalsiblings
whoonlyhavea20%chance.
Itisalsofoundthatheritabilityissignificantlygreaterinwomenthaninmen.
Researchersareuncertainastothereasonbehindit,butoneofthemainideasisthatwomen
producemorehormonesthroughoutpuberty.

"WhatCausesDepression?HarvardHealth."
HarvardHealth.
HarvardMedicalSchool,9June2009.Web.26
Feb.2016.
14
"GeneticsinDepression:What'sKnown,What'snext."
EurekAlert!
WoltersKluwerHealth,7Jan.2015.Web.26
Feb.2016.
15

Bondy,Brigitta."PathophysiologyofDepressionandMechanismsofTreatment."
Citeseerx.ist.psu.edu
.N.p.,
2002.Web.26Feb.2016.
13

22
Temperamentisanimportantfactorindepression.Itshowyourespondtosituationsand
whetheryouparticipateinsocialeventsandhowoften,whichisdeterminednotonlybythe
geneticinheritance,butbylifeexperiencesaswellandhowtheyareviewed.Theyare
changeablethroughtherapyandmedicationwhichshiftsthoughtsandattitudes.

NEURONS
Neuronsarespeciallydesignedtosendandreceivesignalswithshortfiberscalled
dendritesandonelongerfibercalledaxonthatbranchoutoffofthecellbody.
Whenaneuronisactivated,asignaltravelstotheendoftheaxonwhichiscalledthe
axonterminal,andreleasesneurotransmittersthatwerebeingstoredthereintothespacebetween
thatneuronandthedendriteofaneighboringneuroncalledthesynapticcleft(orsynapse).
Neurotransmittersthenbindwithreceptorsthatareembeddedintotheplasmamembraneofthe
otherneuron,andthesignaleithercontinuestopassonthroughtheneuronorgetssuppressed.
Onceaneuronreleasesacertainnumberofneurotransmitters,itwillstartaprocesscalled
reabsorptionorreuptake.Itstopspumpingoutthechemicalandstartsbringingthembackin.
Theremainingneurotransmittermoleculesareabsorbedbyenzymesandbrokendowninto
smallerparticles.16

Itsfoundthatinpeoplewhoareseverelydepressed,oneofthemanycomplexsystems
thatcometogetherinthebrainthatkeepssenses,learning,movement,andmoodworking
properlyarentfunctioninghowtheyaresupposedto.
Forexample,ifanyofthefollowingcasestakesplacewithinthebrainthenthatperson
hasprobablydevelopedseveredepression.Amessagemightbeweakenediftherestoolittleofa

Stufflebeam,Robert."Neurons,Synapses,ActionPotentials,andNeurotransmission."
TheMindProject
.CCSI,
2008.Web.26Feb.2016.
16

23
neurotransmitterbeingpumpedout.Anoverlyefficientreuptaketakesintoomuchbeforethe
transmittershavethechancetobindtothereceptorsonotherneurons.Thismayalsooccurif
receptorscouldbeoversensitiveorinsensitivetoaspecificneurotransmitter,whichmakestheir
responsetothemeitherexcessiveorinadequate.

NEUROTRANSMITTERS
Neurotransmittersarechemicalsthattakeupthespaceinbetweenneuronsandrelay
messagesbackandforth.Therearemanydifferenttypesofneurotransmitters.Theseareafew
believedtoplayaroleindepression.
Acetylcholineenhancesmemoryandisinvolvedinlearningandrecall.Serotoninhelps
regulatesleep,appetite,andmoodandinhibitspain.Researchsupportstheideathatsome
depressedpeoplehavereducedserotonintransmission.Lowlevelsofaserotoninbyproducthave
beenlinkedtoahigherriskforsuicide.
Endorphinsarechemicalsproducedinthepituitarygland,andtheyarereleasedwhenone
isfeelinghappy.Whenendorphinsareproduced,theycanhaveavarietyofeffectsonthebody.
Someoftheseeffectsincludeblockingpain,boostingyourmood,relievingstress,moderating
yourappetite,enhancingyourimmunesystem,andreleasingtestosterone.Endorphinsfight
stress,makeyoufeelbetter,andthemoreendorphinsyouproduce,thegreateryoullfeel.
Norepinephrineisastresshormonethatconstrictsbloodvessels,raisingbloodpressure.
Itspartofthefightorflightresponses.Itmaytriggeranxietyandcouldbeinvolvedinsome
typesofdepression.Itseffectsarealertnessandarousal,anditalsoseemstohelpdetermine
motivationandreward.
Dopamineisaneurohormonethatisreleasedbythehypothalamus,andisessentialto
movement.Italsoinfluencesmotivationandplaysaroleinhowapersonperceivesreality.
Problemsindopaminetransmissionhavebeenassociatedwithpsychosis,asevereformof
distortedthinkingcharacterizedbyhallucinationsordelusions.Itsalsoinvolvedinthebrains
rewardsystem,soitisthoughttoplayaroleinsubstanceabuse.Whenusedasmedication,it
leadstoincreasedheartrateandbloodpressure.
Lithiumcarbonate,awellknownmoodstabilizerusedtotreatbipolardisorder,helps
preventdamagetoneuronsinthebrainsofratsexposedtohighlevelsofglutamate.Otheranimal
researchsuggeststhatlithiummightstabilizeglutamatereuptake,amechanismthatmayexplain
howthedrugsmoothsoutthehighsofmaniaandthelowsofdepressioninthelongterm.
Glutamateisasmallmoleculebelievedtoactasanexcitatoryneurotransmitterandto
playaroleinbipolardisorderandschizophrenia.Thoughitisessential,itisalsotoxic.
Glutamatehastohavejusttherightamountconcentrationbecausetoomuchaswellastoolittle
isharmfultothebrain.

24
Gammaaminobutyricacid(GABA)isanaminoacidthatactsasaninhibitory
neurotransmitter.Ithelpsbyimprovingmoodandcalmingnervousactivitysuchasanxietyor
ADHD.Itcanalsobeusedforpromotingleanmusclegrowth,burningfat,stabilizingblood
pressure,andrelievingpain.

BRAINIMAGING
Magneticresonanceimaging(MRI)isanoninvasivemedicaltestthatphysiciansuseto
diagnoseandtreatmedicalconditions.Itusesapowerfulmagneticfield,radiofrequencypulses
andacomputertoproducedetailedpicturesofvirtuallyanyinternalbodystructuressuchas
organs,softtissues,andbone.17
Asinglephotonemission
computerizedtomography(SPECT)scan
cananalyzethefunctionofsomeofyour
internalorgans.Forexample,itcanshow
howbloodflowstoyourheartorwhatareas
ofyourbrainaremoreactiveorlessactive.
Itsatypeofnuclearimagingtest,which
meansitusesaradioactivesubstanceanda
specialcameratocreate3Dpictures.18
TheimagetotheleftshowshowbrainSPECTimagingcanillustratecleardifferences
betweenhealthyanddisorderedbrains.
Thesescanshelpgiveabetterunderstandingonwhatgoesoninthebrainand
specificallywhatareasplayasignificantroleindepressionsuchastheamygdala,thethalamus,
andthehippocampus.

Theamygdalaispartofthelimbicsystem
whichdealswithemotions.Specifically,the
amygdalaisactivatedwhenanemotionallycharged
memoryisrecalled,andhashigheractivityinsador
depressedpeople.
Thethalamusreceivessensoryinformation
andsendsittobeprocessedbythecerebralcortex.It
linksinformationtopleasantandunpleasant
feelings.Researchsuggeststhatbipolardisorderhas
todowithaprobleminthissectionofthebrain.
"BrainImaging,Functional(fMRI)."
BrainImaging,Functional(fMRI)
.RSNA,23June2014.Web.04Mar.
2016.
18
"SPECTScan."
MayoClinic
.MayoClinicStaff,20Feb.2014.Web.05Mar.2016.
17

25
Thehippocampusisresponsibleforlongtermmemoryandrecollection.Italsois
responsibleforactivatingthenervoussystem.Itgetssmallerwiththeamountofdepressionone
has.Stressplaysaroleindepressionbecauseitcanalsosuppresstheproductionofnewneurons
inthehippocampuscausingittoshrink.

GENERALIZEDANXIETYDISORDER
PeoplewithGADcantrelax,startleeasily,andhavedifficultyconcentratingorfalling
asleep.Eveniftheyrealizethattheyhavenothingtoworryaboutandthattheiranxietyis
unwarrantedtheystillhavetroublecalmingdown.Itdevelopsslowlyandusuallystartsduring
youngadulthood.Symptomsmaygetbetterorworsedependingonthesituation.Iftheanxiety
levelissiverthaneventhesimplestofdaily
tasksbecomedifficulttocarryout.19
Physicalsymptomsthatoftenaccompanythe
anxietyincludefatigue,headaches,muscle
tension,muscleaches,difficultyswallowing,
trembling,feelingtwitching,irritability,
sweating,nausea,lightheadedness,
diarrheaor
havingtogotothebathroomfrequently,
feelingoutofbreath,andhotflashes.
MRIscansforpeoplediagnosedwithGADshowsabnormalityintheamygdala.When
studiedinadolescents,itwasfoundthatthesesubjectsamygdalawaseithersignificantlysmaller
orlargerthanapersonwithoutGAD.20 Theyhaveweakerconnectionsbetweenprefrontaland
anteriorcingulatecortexthatcontrolsemotionalresponseandtheamygdalaviatheuncinate
fasciculus,aprimarywhitemattertractthatconnectsthesebrainregions.Thissuggeststhatthe
brainspanicbuttonmaystay
onduetolackofregulation.21
Theimagetotheleftisthe
MRIscanofsomeonewhohas
beendiagnosedwithBPD.It
highlightsanenlargedbilateral
amygdala(left)andright
dorsomedialprefrontaland
anteriorcingulatecortex
(right).
"GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder(GAD)."
NIMHRSS
.NationalInstituteofMentalHealth,n.d.Web.05Mar.2016.
Leong,Kristie."WhatDoestheMRIofaPersonwithGeneralizedAnxietyDisorderLookLike?
Healthguideinfo.com
.HealthGuideInfo,6Oct.2010.Web.26Feb.2016.
21
"ReducedBrainConnectionsSeeninPeoplewithGeneralizedAnxietyDisorder."
WisconsinNews
.Universityof
WisconsinMadison,3Sept.2012.Web.05Mar.2016.
19
20

26
BIPOLARDISORDER
Theyfoundpeoplewithbipolardisordersufferfromanacceleratedshrinkingoftheir
brain.Imagingstudiescarriedoutfouryearsapartshowedlossofbraintissueintheareas
controllingmemory,facerecognitionandcoordination.Thoughthemedicalcommunitydoesnt
acceptMRIsofBPDasreliablebecauseitisstilltooearlytocorrectlydiagnosesomeonebased
solelyoffofbrainscans.
StudiesshowthatpeoplewithBPDhavedifferentfunctioningincertainareasofthe
brainsuchasthelimbicsystemwhichincludestheamygdala,hippocampus,andcingulategyrus.
Thelimbicsystemcontrolsemotion,motivation,memoryandfear.22

EffectsonDailyLife
Livingwithmentalhealthisaproblemthat1in5Americanadultsexperienceinany
givenyear23 ,and1in25willbelivingwithaseriousmentalillness24 (i.e.schizophrenia,bipolar
disorderorlongtermrecurringmajordepression).Theyfacealotofinjusticesandstereotypes
thattheyhaveofpeoplewithmentalillness.Inadditiontothattheyalsohaveextrachallengesin
theirlifebesidestheeverydayproblemsthatpeoplehave(i.e.taxes,debts,etc.).Inthissection
youwillfindmultipledilemmasthatpeoplefacingmentalillnesshavetofaceintheirlives
aboveeverydayconflicts.
Oneofthebiggestconflictsthatpeoplelivingwithmentalillnesseshaveareofcourse
disclosinginformationabouttheirillnesstoothers.However,ithelpsimmenselyoncethey
actuallytellothersbecausetheycanoffersupporttothem,anditwilloverallreducetheirstress
levelandhelpimprovetheirmood.Justtryingtokeepitasecretincreasesthelevelofstressand
pressurethattheyfeelfrompeoplefindingout.First,therearenospecificpeoplethatshould
knowbecausemostpeoplecouldbenefitfromtellingdifferentpeople,butsincetheyarethe
mastersoftheirowndiseasetheycandecideforthemselveswhoaretherightpeopletotell,and
whoaren't.Second,notallpeoplewillbeabletounderstandunfortunately,buttherewillbe
thosepeoplethatwillhelpwithcopingwiththeillnessandfindingthehelptheyneed.
Finally,therearealsolotsofotherfactorsthattieintowhenexactlytheyshouldtellthe
peopletheychoose,andwhoexactlytheyshouldtell.Inmomentswhentheyarefeelingunwell
ofcoursetheyshouldtellpeoplewhoaremoresupportiveintheirlife.Forthispersoncanhelp
gothroughthehardtimes.Otherwiseitneedstobewhentheyarefeelingwellandwhenitserves
apurpose.Forexample,theymighttellalovedonebecausethey'reworryingaboutthewaythey
"BipolarBrainImaging."
BipolarLives
.BipolarLives,6Mar.2014.Web.26Feb.2016.

22
23

"MentalHealthBytheNumbers."
NAMI:NationalAllianceonMentalIllness
.N.p.,n.d.Web.25Feb.2016.

<https://www.nami.org/LearnMore/MentalHealthBytheNumbers>
24

"SeriousMentalIllness(SMI)AmongU.S.Adults."
NIMHRSS
.N.p.,n.d.Web.25Feb.2016.
<http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/seriousmentalillnesssmiamongusadults.shtml>

27
arethinkingandthewaythattheyarebehaving.Theymighttellafriendinordertohelpthem
understandwhytheycannotspendtimetogetherand/orwhytheyfeelthattheirrelationshipis
growingdistant.Theymightalsotelltheiremployerforaccommodationsatwork.Soontheywill
findthattheyarejustasmanyreasonstotellastherearetostayquiet.
Continuingonthetrailofadmittingtointernalissues,anotherbigproblemisfindingthe
correctmentalhealthprofessional.Forfindingtheperfectmentalhealthprofessionaltheseare
somestepsthattheymighttakeinordertofindthebestmatch.Thefirststepisthinkingabout
whotheyarelookingfor.Therearetworeasonsthatonewouldbelookingforprofessionalhelp.
Numberoneisthattheysimplywantbehavioraloremotionaltherapy,andtheotherreasonbeing
thattheywantmedication.Someresourcesthatcouldhelpthemintheirsearcharetalkingto
theirphysicianinordertogetadiagnosis.Iftheyarelookingforemotional,behavioral,or
thinkingtherapythenonecanspecificallylookfortherapistorcounselorsthatare
knowledgeableabouthowtotreatorhelptheircondition.Ifoneislookingforbenefitfrom
medicationthentheyshouldconsultamentalhealthspecialistbecauseprimarycaredoctorsare
goodatidentifyingthe"bigpicture"buttheyhavemoreexperienceintreatingconditionsthat
theyarelookingfor.
Thefollowingstepsallhavetodowithactuallysearchingfortheperfectplacethatthey
aregoingtobeusingfortheirhelp.Thesecondstepisforonetofindreferralsbycallingthe
insurancecompanyinordertoseeiftheirproviderwillcoveritandfindhelpthatisinthearea.
Oncetheyhaveafairamountoflocationstheycancallinordertomakethefirstappointment.
Theyshouldn'tworryabouthavingtowaitmonthsfortheirfirstappointment.Ifonethatcan
helpfasterisfound,thenonecanalwaysjustcanceltheirappointment.Oncetheyaretherefor
theirfirstappointmentitisimportantthattheyaskmanyquestions.Notonlyshouldtheybe
askingquestionstothem,butalsoaskquestionstothemselves.Forexample,iftheyfeel
comfortablewiththeprofessional,ifthepersoniscorrect,etc.
Anotherbigproblemthattheyhavetofaceevenwhentheyalreadyhavehelpisthatthey
needtofindawaytopayalloftheirmedicationfor
thosethatchoosetohavemedicatedhelp.Forpaying
theirmedicationsomeofthepossiblethingsthatthey
candoinordertotrytofindhelppayingfortheir
medicationishealthinsurance.Onecanreceivehealth
insurancethroughwork,familymembers,orperhaps
privatelypurchasedinsurance.TheAffordableCareAct
of201025 requireshealthplanstocovermentalhealthto
becoveredasifitwereanyothertreatment.Another
possiblyactionthattheycantakeistotalkwiththeir
"ReadtheLaw."
HHS.gov
.N.p.,26Aug.2015.Web.25Feb.2016.
<http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/aboutthelaw/readthelaw/index.html>
25

28
doctors.Perhapstheycanprovideafreesampleforashortperiodoftimeorhelpswitchtoless
expensivemedication.
Forthoseseekingevenmorehelpwiththis,therearelotsofprogramsouttherethancan
alsogiveextraassistanceinpayingfortheirmedication.SomeoftheGovernmentProgramsare
thefollowing:NAMIStateOrganizationsandNAMIAffiliates26forinformationabout
prescriptionassistance,andhelpinthestrugglingindividualsarea.Iftheygototheirlocal
Medicaidofficetheymightbeabletogiveinformationaboutprescriptionassistanceand
discountprograms.Thefinalisgovernmenthelp.TheymustparticipateinMedicarePartDand
needfinancialassistance,whichthenenablesthemtoqualifyforExtraHelp.Call8003334114
27
toseeiftheyqualifyforthishelpormoreinformationontheirservices.
TherearemanyNonprofitProgramsaroundthecountry.NeedyMedsisanonprofitthat
helpspeopleofallageswithhelponlocatingfree/lowcostclinics,stateprograms,andoffering
freeNeedyMedsDrugDiscountCard.Iftheywouldlikemoreinformationabouttheirservices
theycancontactthembycallingthenumber800503689728.PartnershipforPrescription
Assistance29 helpspeoplewithoutprescriptiondrugcoveragegetthemedicationtheyneedfree
oratreallylowprices.RxAssist30 helppeoplefindinformationaboutfreeorlowcost
medicationsandotherwaystomanagetheirmedicationthroughtheironlinePatientAssistance
ProgramCenter.RxHope31 helpspeoplebyprovidingdownloadableapplicationsforprograms
offeringprescriptionassistanceforspecificmedications.PatientAssistance.com32isanother
nonprofitthatofferspeopleprintablecouponsandadatabaseofavailableassistanceforpatients.
ThefinalnonprofitthatcanofferhelpisGoodRxthatallowsthemtocomparedrugpricesto
pharmaciesintheirareaincludingthebigchainpharmaciesandlocalpharmacies
Anotherimportantfactorthattheyneedtofaceintheirlivesistryingtosucceedatwork.
Thisisoneofthemostsignificantareasinwhichtheywouldhaveneededtodecideiftheywere
goingtotellthemaboutmentalillness.Thisisbecausetheymightfacestereotypesand
discriminationduetothepreconceivedideasthattheymighthaveofpeoplewithmental
illnesses.Luckyforthemthattherearelawsthatprotectthemfromdiscriminationandunfair

"FindYourLocalNAMI."
NAMI:NationalAllianceonMentalIllness
.N.p.,n.d.Web.25Feb.2016.
<https://www.nami.org/FindYourLocalNAMI>
27

"ContactUsMedicareRightsCenter."
MedicareRightsCenter
.N.p.,n.d.Web.25Feb.2016.
<http://www.medicarerights.org/aboutus/contactus>
28

"NeedyMedsHelpline."
MedicationAssistanceHelpline
.N.p.,n.d.Web.25Feb.2016.
<http://www.needymeds.org/helpline>
29

"WelcometothePPA!"
PartnershipforPrescriptionAssistance
.N.p.,08Apr.2014.Web.25Feb.2016.
<https://www.pparx.org/gethelp>
30

"RxAssistAdvancedDatabaseSearchofPatientAssistancePrograms."
RxAssistAdvancedDatabaseSearchof
PatientAssistancePrograms
.N.p.,n.d.Web.25Feb.2016.<http://www.rxassist.org/search>
31
"PatientAssistanceProgramRxHopeMedicationSearchHome."
PatientAssistanceProgramRxHope
MedicationSearchHome
.N.p.,n.d.Web.25Feb.2016.<https://www.rxhope.com/Patient/MedSearchHome.aspx>
32
"PatientAssistanceProgramsDrugList."
PatientAssistanceProgramsDrugList
.N.p.,n.d.Web.25Feb.2016.
<http://www.patientassistance.com/druglist.html>
26

29
practicesonthejob.ThereistheAmericanswithDisabilitiesAct33 whichprohibits
discriminationagainstjobapplicantsandemployeeswithdisabilities.Inordertobeabletobe
ableundertheprotectionofthislawthecompanyortheemployermusthavemorethanfifteen
employeesandhaveproofthattheyaregoingtobeabletocompletethejobthattheyare
applyingforevenwiththedisabilitythattheyhave.ThereisalsotheRehabilitationActof1973
34
whichmakesthesamerulesasbeforeapplytoagenciesandgroupsreceivingfederalfunding.
Anotherimportantfactorislearningaboutthe
FamilyMedicalLeaveAct35thatallowsanemployeeto
takeuptotwelveweeksofunpaidleaveintheeventofan
illness.Thisactallowsthemtotaketheabsencewhile
keepingtheirpositioninthejobandbenefitsfromit.
However,theymusthaveworkedaminimumoftwelve
monthsforthesameemployerandthelocationthat
employsthemmusthaveatleastfiftyemployeesinorder
toqualifyfortheFamilyMedicalLeaveAct.
Anotherbenefitthattheycanhaveishavingaccommodationsatwork.Someofthe
accommodationsthattheymayqualifyforare,butnotrestrictedto:Flexibleworkschedulesor
starttimes,reduceddistractionsornoiseintheworkarea,workingfromhomeortelecommuting,
writtendirectionsandtasklists,regularwrittenorverbalfeedback,flexiblebreakschedule,
private,quietspacetorestduringabreak,oruseofajobcoach.Inordertorequestthese
accommodationsonemustofcourseasktheiremployerorsubmitarequestofhavingapossible
accommodation.However,beforetheysendtheirrequesttherearesomestepsthattheyshould
takebefore.
First,asktheemployer'shumanresourcespersonnelabouthowtorequest
accommodationforitmightalreadybeinplaceorjusttogethelponsubmittingtherequest.Also
theyneedtodecidedwhataccommodationtheywant,andtheyshouldbepreparedtowriteitall
outandincludehowtheaccommodationwillhelpbenefittheirperformanceatschool.They
shouldalsotalkwiththeirtreatmentproviderinordertoaskfordocumentationintheformofa
letteroranotethatisstatingtheirmentaldisorderandwhataccommodationtheymightneedand
whytheywouldneedit.
Ifyouorsomebodyyouknowhassufferedfromdiscriminationatwork,therearelotsof
legaloptionsyoucantakeinordertogoagainsttheirdiscriminativeways.Fileacomplaintwith

33

"AmericanswithDisabilitiesAct|UnitedStatesDepartmentofLabor."
AmericanswithDisabilitiesAct|United
StatesDepartmentofLabor
.N.p.,n.d.Web.26Feb.2016.<http://www.dol.gov/general/topic/disability/ada>
34

"
RehabilitationActof1973Disability.gov."
Disability.gov
.N.p.,n.d.Web.26Feb.2016.
<https://www.disability.gov/rehabilitationact1973/>
35
"WageandHourDivision(WHD)."
FamilyandMedicalLeaveAct
.N.p.,n.d.Web.26Feb.2016.
<http://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/>
.

30
theEqualEmploymentOpportunityCommission36,whichisafederalgovernmentagency
createdtoenforcetheAmericanswithDisabilitiesAct.Ifyougetdeniedorforsomereasonthey
sayno,thenacomplaintotheDepartmentofLaborcanalsoreceiveacomplaintandtheytoo
candosomethingaboutthediscriminationthatyouarefacingduetotheirmentalillness.
Obviouslyforthoselivingwithmentalillnesses,theystillhavetoworryabouteverything
elsesuchasstayingactive,healthyeating,beingmindful,avoidingsubstanceabuse,positive
thinking,andplanningahead.Exercisewillnotonlyhelponereduceanxietyanddepression,but
helpimprovetheirmood,selfesteem,andcognitivefunction.Inaddition,somemedicationthat
theymighttakecouldincreaseriskforobesity,andexercisecouldhelpfightthatsideeffect.
Overall,exerciseimprovesthequalityofhealthmakingthembestrongerforwhenillnesses
comearound.Ofcourse,don'tworryiftheyaren'tgymenthusiastforstudieshaveshownthatall
ittakesisaboutthirtyminutesofworkoutafewtimesaweekinordertoenjoyallofthese
healthybenefits.Ofcoursefindingaworkoutbuddywouldalsomakeitmuchmorefun,and
easiertomakethishealthyalternativearoutinethatyoudoeveryday.
Eatinghealthyissomethingthatmostpeoplealreadyknowaboutyethereisalittle
refresherofwhatyoushouldbeeating.Ahealthydietconsistofportionsoffruits,vegetables,
wholegrains,andlowfat/fatfreemilk.Itshouldalsoincludeleanmeats,poultry,fish,eggs,
beans,andnuts.Fatsandsugarsshouldbelimitedtoverylittle.Studieshaveshownthatthose
whoconsumenutrientdensedietsreportahigherlevelofhappiness.Whichmeansthat
consumingfruits,vegetable,carbohydrates,vitamins,andmineralswillincreasetheirhappiness.
Inaddition,drinkingwaterisalsoimportant.FormoreinformationyoucanvisitChooseMy
Plate'sOfficialWebsiteat:
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/MyPlate37inordertofindmore
informationabouthealthyeatinganddiets.
Anotherbigpartofhealthylivinginbecomingmindful,positiveliving,andavoiding
substanceabuse.Beingmindfulisconsciousandawareofsomething.Inwhatwemeanbybeing
mindfulisbeingawareofnegativefeelingsandunderstandingwhattheyare.Alsobeingableto
enjoythemomentthatyouarecurrentlylivingcouldhelpimprovetheirlivingcondition.Some
activitiesthattheycandotoworkontheirmindfulnessismeditationandyogaoractivitiesthat
increasethenumberofsignalingconnectionsinthebrain.Practicingyourmindfulnesswillhelp
improvestressrelief,sleep,andhelpreducechronicpain,bloodpressure,andsymptomsofheart
disease.
Smokingandsubstanceabusearebigproblemsforpeoplewithmentalillnessforthe
reasonthatnotonlyisitbadfortheirhealthbutitcanbeextradamagingforthosebeingtreated
forcertainmentalhealthconditions.Certainantipsychoticmedicationscanincreasethechance
ofhavingheartdisease,butsmokingwhiletakingthemedicationcanincreasethechanceseven
more.Medicationsarealsobrokendownfasterinthosewhosmokewhichcausesthemtotake

"FilingAChargeofDiscrimination."
FilingaCharge
.N.p.,n.d.Web.26Feb.2016.
<http://www.eeoc.gov/employees/charge.cfm>
37
"MyPlate."
Choose
.N.p.,03Feb.2015.Web.25Feb.2016.<http://www.choosemyplate.gov/MyPlate>
36

31
higherdosesofmedicationwhichcanalsoleadtomoreunpleasantsideeffects.Beingableto
quitsmokingishelpfulforboththeirmentalandphysicalhealthsoifyousmokewithorwithout
amentaldiseaseyoushouldconsiderstopping.Forhelponbeingabletostopvisit
http://smokefree.gov/38 forhelponbeingabletostopsmoking.
Abusingofdrugsandalcoholmayseemlikeawaytocope
withmentalillness,yetitsimplyworsensthecondition.Avoiding
smoking,drugs,andalcoholcouldmakeeverythingbetterandhelp
improveyourcondition.Agoodwaytocopewithmentalillnessis
thinkingpositively.Thewaythatonethinksandperceiveshimself
influenceshowbravewefeel.Ifonehaslowselfesteemthenthey
aremostlikelytobediagnosedwithdepression,anxiety,bipolar
disorder,orpersonalitydisorder.Inadditiontothat,lowselfesteem
cancauseadepressedorupsetpersontohavesuicidalthoughts.
Neglectingtheirhealth,work,andfriendsbecauseofafearof
failing.Howeverimprovingtheirselfesteemcouldimprovetheir
conditionandjusttheirgeneralwayofliving.
Thewaysinwhichonecanimprovetheirselfesteemare
numerous.Disposeofallthenegativethoughtsthatyouhaveandif
youhavenegativethoughtsfindawaytocounterthemwithapositivethought.Everybodycan
alwaysbeverycriticalofthemselveshoweverpeoplewithlowselfesteemcanbeevenmore
criticalofthemselvesandmakegreaterdamagetothemselves.Onecouldlearnanewskillor
findsomethingtheyloveanddoiteveryday.Theymayworkonsomethingtheylovedoingor
masteranewskill,andofcoursetakeprideintheirachievements.Thefinalwayistotakecare
ofyourself.Whenonehasreallylowselfesteemit'seasytoneglectoneself.Spendtimewith
peoplewhomakeyoufeelbetteraboutyourselfandgeneral.Alsomakesuretheyfinddaysfor
themselves.Theycandoactivitiessuchashaveaspaday,buyanewoutfit,ortaketimetodo
somethingthattheyenjoydoing.Settinggoalsforthemselvesandfindingrewardsfor
accomplishingtheirgoalsisalsoawaytoboosttheirselfesteem.
Thefinalstepsfortakingcareofoneselfisgettingagoodnightsleep.Whenonehas
mentalhealthconditions,sleepproblemscanbecomeaviciouscycle.Speciallyfortheperson
experiencingthesleepingproblemshasanxietydisorder.Anxietycausespeopletofeelanxious
beforegoingtosleepmakingithardtosleepatnight.Thus,makingthemfeelexhaustedthenext
dayandevenmoreanxious.Whichattheendofthedaycausesthemtobewaytoanxioustobe
abletofallasleepagain.It'sveryimportantwhenoneislivingwithmentalhealthconditionsto
makesuretheyaregettingsevenhoursofsleepiftheyareadults,andninehoursofsleepifthey
areteenagers.

"Smokefree.gov."
Smokefree.gov
.N.p.,n.d.Web.25Feb.2016.<http://smokefree.gov/>

38

32
Anotherimportantaspectoflifeisfaithandtheactofpracticingit.Forresearchhas
shownthatsomereligionsand/orindividualspiritualitycanhelpimproveourphysicaland
mentalhealth.Apracticethatonecandoismeditatingfortentotwentyminutesofmeditationat
leasttwiceadaytogetarelaxationresponse.Arelaxationresponseisdecreasedmetabolism,
decreasedheartrate,decreaseddecreasedbreathingrateandslower,andcalmerbrainwaves.
SomereligionsthatareknowntocauserelaxationresponseareBuddhisminBuddhist
meditation,Islamicprayerritual,andCatholicrosarybeads.
Religioncanalsohelpanswerquestionsthatpeoplehave,forexamplethe"whyme?"
questionthatunfortunatelymedicalsciencecannotanswer.Mostpeoplecanfindtheanswerin
thereligionthattheypracticewhoofferexplanationofsufferinginthisworld,andgivingthem
comfortintheirillness.Religioncanalsohelpbringthatfeelingofattachmenttootherpeople.In
religiousorganizations,theycanofferpeoplewithmentalhealthdisordersachancetoservethe
communitywhichcanhelpimprovetheirmoodandreducetheiranxietylevels.Inadditionto
that,themeetingseveryweekthatmostreligionsdomakeyoufeellikeyou'repartofsomething
big.
Stressaffectseverybodyintheirlife.Attimesitcanhelpkeeppeoplefocusedandget
theirtaskdone,butfrequentandintensestresscanstraintheirbodyandmakeitimpossibleto
function.Stressaffectspeopleinmanydifferentways.Someofthecommonsignsinclude:
headaches,troublesleeping,jawpain,changesinappetite,frequentmoodswings,difficulty
concentrating,andfeelingoverwhelmed.Ifsomebodyisexperiencinglongtermstressthenthey
areexposedtoincreasedlevelsofhormonescalledcortisol,thatweakenstheirimmunesystem
whichmakesiteasierforonetogetsick.Stresscanalsocontributetoworseningsymptomsof
mentalillnesses.Forexample,ifonehasschizophreniaitcanencouragehallucinationsand
delusions.Whileinbipolardisorder,itcantriggerepisodesofbothmaniaanddepression.
Sometimesthatoneismostvulnerabletostressisiftheyaren'tgettingenoughsleep,no
networksupport,experiencingmajorlifechange(deathofimportantfigureinlife,newjob,lost
job,havingachild,gettingmarried,etc.),ornoteatingwell.Everybodyhasdifferenteventsthat
alsostressthemout.Forexamplesomeonemightbeaffectedbylargecrowdsandnoisy
environments,whileotherpeoplecouldbeaffectedtosilenceandfreetime.Somestepsthatone
cantakearebasedaroundlearningwhatyourtriggersare,andcreatingstrategiesinordertocope
withit.Onecanmakeadailyscheduletomakesurethattheydon'tfeeloverwhelmedbytheir
everydaytasks.Likeithassaidbeforepracticerelaxation,exercisedaily,findtimeforyourself,
eatwell,sleepwell,avoiddrugs,andtalktosomeone.Followingallofthestepsinstructedinthis
sectionwilldecreaseyourstressandmakeyoufeelsomuchbetterinyoureverydaylife.39

"LivingwithaMentalHealthCondition."
NAMI:NationalAllianceonMentalIllness
.N.p.,n.d.Web.16Feb.
2016.<
https://www.nami.org/FindSupport/LivingwithaMentalHealthCondition
>
39

33

PartV:
Conclusion

34
Solutions:HealthyAlternatives
Strugglingwithpoormentalhealthandsuicidalthoughtsisanissuewithveryfew
solutions.Eventoday,peoplefacingthehardshipofanxiety,depression,bipolardisorder,and
othermentalhealthconditionsdontknowhowtocopewiththeirstruggles.Thesedifficulties
impactthedailylivesofthesepeopleimmensely,makingithardforthemtomotivate
themselves,findenjoymentinthings,andeventofunction.Oftentimestheonlywaytocope
withsuicidalthoughtsisthroughkillingthemselves,butthisisnotanecessarysolution.Taking
thelifeofonesselfisapermanentanddangeroussolutiontoaserious,buttemporaryproblem.
Somefindthatinordertolivewithmentalhealthconditionsorsuicidalthoughts,they
needtofindadistractionofsomekind.Manyturntoalternativesthatareunhealthyandcaneven
worsentheircurrentstate40 .Therehavebeenmanycaseswherepeoplehaveseekedsolutions
throughharmingthemselvesorothers,butthisalwaysendsinpaininvolvingtheperson
strugglingand/ortheirlovedones.Thesealternativesincludebutarenotlimitedto,selfharm,
substanceabuse,andunderorovereating.
Selfharmwhilebeingadistractionandalessharmfulalternativetokillingonesself
itcancauseanxiety,distress,andpermanentscarring.Selfharmisprobablyoneofthemost
commonalternativesused,butpeopleoftenforgethowtemporarythesolutionis.Selfharmmay
provideadistractionandmayevenrelievepainorstresstemporarily,buttherearealwaysrisks
involvingthisalternative.Ifthepersonstrugglinghasanxiety,itmaygetworsewiththeadded
stressofhidingscars,anddepressionmayworsenwiththedistressthatcomesafterharming
onesself.
Substanceabuseisextremelycommonamongpeoplebattlingdepressivedisorders.But
drugand/oralcoholabusecanworsenbrainfunctioninvolvingdecisionmaking,thinking,
reasoning,andrationalizing,thisoftenleadstodepressionworsening41.Peoplestrugglingwith
alcoholabuseespeciallyhavenoticedanincreaseinlethargy,sadness,andhopelessness.As
depressionworsens,sodoesthepersonsaddiction,whichcannotonlymakementalillness
worse,butcanruinrelationshipsandlives.Whendepressedpeopledontseekhelporahealthier
alternative,alltoomanypeopleturntodrugsand/oralcoholinordertoescapenegative
emotions.42

Vann,Madeline,andLindseyMarcellin."TheWorstWaystoTreatDepression."
EverydayHealth.com
.
EverydayHealth,28Sept.2011.Web.23Feb.2016.
40

"WhyIsAlcoholandDrugAddictionConsideredaBrainDisease?"
WhyIsAlcohol&DrugAddiction
ConsideredaBrainDisease?
EnterhealthRanch:AddictionTreatment,n.d.Web.23Feb.2016.
41

42

"DepressionAndAddiction."
DualDiagnosis.org
.N.p.,n.d.Web.23Feb.2016.

35
Undereatingorovereatingcanleadtoseriouseatingdisordersandinturn,canworsenor
increasethelikelihoodofdevelopingandanxietydisorder.43Peoplewhounderorovereatasan
alternativetotakingthemselvesriskdevelopingdisorderssuchasanorexia,bulimia,bingeeating
disorders,andinthecaseofovereating,thisalternativescanleadtoobesity.Notonlyisit
unhealthytoundereatorovereat,butitcanleadtoseriousphysicaldifficulties,likekidney
failure,thinningofbonesandnails,andeventhedropofoverallbodytemperature.Struggling
witheatingdisordersinadditiontodepressivedisordersisextremelydangerousandinthelong
run,canmakesuicidalthoughtsevenworse,especiallybecauseoftheaddeddepressioncoming
withthesedisorders.
Itsimportanttorecognizeandencouragethecopingmethodsthatexistandarehealthy
forindividualsstrugglingwithmentalhealthconditionsand/orsuicidalthoughts.Researchhas
proventhatwhenpeoplelivingwithmentalhealthconditionsareeatinghealthy,exercising,and
gettingenoughsleep,theyarealsoincreasingendorphins.Thisisnttheonlyhealthyalternative
proventohelppeopleexperiencingmentalhealthdifficulties.Manyhavefoundthatputtingtheir
energyintotheartshashelpedtheminfindingadistraction.Infact,manymusicalandtheatrical
artistsactuallyfoundtheirpassionthroughdistractingthemselvesfromdepressionorother
mentalhealthconditions.
WellknownpeoplesuchasLadyGaga,44Beyonce45,andevenDwayneTheRock
Johnson,46 haveallstruggledwithmentalhealthconditionsandsuicidalthoughts.Theseareall
peoplewhohadbeeninextremelydarkplaces,butpushedthemselvesthroughtheirstrugglesby
findingapassion,whetherthatbemusic,dance,writing,visualartsorsomethingelseentirely.
Theseareallsafe,therapeutic,andextremelycommonalternativesthatareproventowork.
Thereisactuallytherapyrevolvedaroundartstohelppeoplewhostrugglewiththesethings.
Thefactis,artsarentforeveryone.Somepeoplecantfindenjoymentinartsorthey
simplydonthavethemotivationtopracticethem.Especiallywhendepressionisafactorinthe
personsmentalhealth,peoplefacingthishardshipmayhaveahardtimeconnectingwithwhat
theyredoingorfinishingthingstheyvestarted.Whileartistictherapyhelpssome,thereare
endlessalternativestohelpindividuals.Itmustberecognizedthattherearenowrong
alternativesfortakingonesownlife.Allthatmattersisthatthepersonstrugglingfinds
somethingtheyloveand/orcanshifttheirattentiononto.

43

"EatingDisorders|AnxietyandDepressionAssociationofAmerica,ADAA."
EatingDisorders|Anxietyand
DepressionAssociationofAmerica,ADAA
.ADAA,n.d.Web.23Feb.2016.
44
Ross,Ashley."LadyGagaOpensUpAboutDepressionandAnxiety."
Time
.Time,15Oct.2015.Web.23Feb.
2016.
45
Johnson,Caitlin."BeyoncOnLove,DepressionAndReality."
CBSNews
.CBSInteractive,13Dec.2006.Web.
23Feb.2016.
46
Mosbergen,Dominique."Dwayne'TheRock'JohnsonOpensUpAboutHisBattleWithDepression."
Huffington
Post
.N.p.,18Dec.2015.Web.23Feb.2016.

36
Anyalternativesthatdonotharmthepersonstrugglingoranyoneelse,areconsidered
healthy.Thesealternativesdontneedtobeartisticorathletic,infact,theydontneedtohave
anyactionatall.Evenifadepressedpersonfeelsthattheonlyalternativethatworksforthemis
todonothing.Ifapersoncanfindtheslightestenjoymentinlisteningtomusic,watchingTV,
lyinginbedallday,orjuststaringatawall,thesealternativesarestillhealthierthankillingones
self.
Thesealternativesareveryhardforstrugglingindividualstofindandformany,itmay
seemimpossibletofindenjoymentinanything.47 Whatsmostimportantisthatthosefacingthe
hardshipofmentalillnesspushthemselvesasmuchastheycantofindhealthyalternatives
and/orthingstheyenjoy.Topullthroughthisdepression,thesepeopleneedtheloveandsupport
ofothersasthepushtofindtheirdistraction.Findingahealthyalternativethatworksisamajor
accomplishmentforandforthat,thepeoplepushingthroughmentalhealthconditionsdeserve
therecognitionandloyaltyofpeoplewhodonotnecessarilyfacethesamehardships.

Solutions:AwarenessandSupport
Inordertocometotheaidofindividualssufferingfromsuicide,itisimportantto
rememberthattherearecertainstepsonecantaketohelpthesituation.Throughsimpleactsof
empowermentandbetterment,membersofsocietycanimprovethelivesofthemanypeople
strugglingtovaluetheirown.
Thisclassonthe10thGradeHoward/Ruppelteamwillimplementsimpleandeffective
solutionstoalargeissueplaguingoursociety.Fromraisingawarenesstocommunicatingwith
visitors,studentswilltakethemessageofmakingchangeintotheirownhands.These
sophomoreswillgotolocalschoolstospreadtheword,usingthecatchphraseofTogetherWe
HaveHopetosupportthecause.ThestudentshavesuggestedbringingHighTechHighNorth
CountysfamousDayofP.E.A.C.Eto
campusesaroundSanDiegoCountyin
ordertoemphasizetheimportanceof
standingtogetherandcheckinginwith
internalemotionsthatmaybesuppressed
onadailybasis.Inaddition,thisgroupof
studentsplanstocreateawebsiteand
socialmediaaccountsinordertohelp
individualsaffectedbytheepidemicof
sorts.
Tobecomeeducatedonthetopic,
thisgroupofstudentswillalsoseekhelpfromtheprofessionalworld.Someorganizationsfor
potentialpartnershipsincludetheYellowRibbonSuicidePreventionProgram,theSuicide
"AlternativestoSelfHarm."
TeenHelp.
TeenHelp.org,29Mar.2009.Web.24Feb.2016.

47

37
AwarenessVoicesofEducationgroup,theNationalInstituteofMentalHealth,theSuicide
PreventionofYoloCountygroup,theSuicidePreventionResourceCenter,andtheCalifornia
StateUniversitySanMarcosStudentHealth&CounselingServicesteam.Bycollaborating
withthesegroupsforguidanceandstatistics,theHighTechHighNorthCountystudentscan
gaincredibilityfortheirproject.
Aftermonthsofresearchanddatagathering,thestudentsplantoprovideeducatedadvice
tothoseinneedofassistance,orthosewhowishtolearnmoreabouttheissue.Besidesthe
methodsthattheHTHNCstudentsareusing,otherhelpfulwaystosupportteenagersandtheir
familiescopingwiththeproblemarenumerous.
AccordingtotheAmericanPsychologicalAssociationsPsychologyBenefitsSociety48 ,a
publicationdedicatedtohealthandwellnessinAmerica,sensitivity,professionalhelpandhope
buildingareallessentialtechniquestohelpsupportastrugglingteenager.(Seeimagetotop
right.AdvertisementbytheAllianceforSuicidePrevention).Byapproachingthesubjectwith
delicacyandcaution,aparentalfigurecanhelptoavoidpotentialbacklashfromtheirchild.
Parentsalsoneedtounderstandcommonmisconceptionssurroundingtheissueofsuicide,and
whattosayindifferentscenariostoalovedone.
Anothermethodofmakingadifferenceforthetopicofteensuicideisspreading
awareness.OrganizationssuchasS.A.V.E.,theAmericanFoundationforSuicidePrevention,the
NationalInstituteofMentalHealth,theNationalAlliancefortheMentallyIll,andtheSubstance
AbuseandMentalHealthServicesAdministrationamongmanyothergroupshaveallprovided
resourcestocombattheepidemic.TheAmericanFoundationforSuicide,forexample,has
multipledepartmentswithintheoverallorganizationthatbenefitthegreatergood.Asreferenced
onafsp.org,thenonprofitgroupfund[s]researchtoimproveinterventions,traincliniciansin
suicideprevention,andadvocateforpolicythatwillsavelives.49
TheYellowRibbonSuicidePreventionProgramalsohas48localchaptersin27U.S.
Statesincluding:Alaska,Arizona,California,Colorado,Florida,Georgia,Illinois,Indiana,Iowa,
Kansas,Kentucky,Maryland,Massachusetts,Michigan,Minnesota,Missouri,Montana,New
Mexico,NewYork,NorthCarolina,NorthDakota,Ohio,Pennsylvania,SouthDakota,Texas
andWisconsin.Theprogramalsohas6internationalchaptersinZambia,NewSouthWales,
WestAustralia,NovaScotia,NorthernIreland,andScotland.Eachoneofthesechaptersis
dedicatedtoassistinglocalswithdealingwithsuicide,theeffectsthatithasontheirfamilies,and
potentialsignstodiagnosementalhealthissuesinanindividual.50
NotonlydoespartneringwithaprofessionalorganizationhelptheteamfromHighTech
HighNorthCountygainnotorietyandintegrityfortheirproject,butitisalsoawaytoreachout
totherealworldtoseehowsomeofthetopresearchersareapproachingtheissue.Whetherthat
48

Kaslow,NadineJ.,PhD."7EssentialStepsParentsCanTaketoPreventTeenSuicide."
PsychologyBenefits
Society
.N.p.,23Sept.2013.Web.22Feb.2016.
49
"OurWorkAFSP."
AFSP
.2016AmericanFoundationforSuicidePrevention.,n.d.Web.22Feb.2016.
50
"Chapters."
YellowRibbon
.YellowRibbon.,2016.Web.23Feb.2016.

38
companybeacommunityorientedsupportteamoranationalresearchcorporation,any
connectionsbeyondtheschoolcampuscouldserveasapositiveaspectoftheproject.The
studentswanttomakesurethattheyarebeingsensitivetowardsteensuicideandwhatithas
causedmanyfamiliestofeeloverthecourseoftime.Ontheotherhand,theclasswantstobe
knowledgeableenoughontheproblemathandtoprovideinformationalresourcestovisitors.
Thisbalancebetweenemotionandfactishardtofind,butwithsupportfromanexternalsource,
itcanbeeasilyachieved.
Theintentionofthisprojectisnotnecessarilytopreventallteenagersfromattempting
suicideand/orkillingthemselves.Savinglivesiscertainlytheahugepriority,andthereisno
questionaboutthat.However,thereisonlyalimitedamountofcontrolthatonegrouphasover
theirlocalcommunity,theircountry,andeventheworld.Theclasswantstoprovidethe
resourcesnecessarytosupportsomeoneinneedtoparentalfigures,peersofstudentsstruggling
withtheissue,andanyoneelseconnectedtotheprobleminsomeshapeorform.Ifthestudents
workingtoputthisprojecttogethercantrulymakeanimpactonjustonepersonslife,thenthe
objectivesbehindthoserespectiveactionsweremet.TheTWHHProjectislookingtomakea
changeinawiderangeofcommunities,andthiscanhappenwithbeneficialsolutionsandby
raisingawarenessforindividualsdealingwiththeissue.

ProjectGoals/Intentions
TheeffortsoftheTWHHProjectallstemmedfromthesmallhopetobeabletohelp
suicidalteenagersovercomeandfindhelpagainstthedepressionthatconsumesthembyraising
awareness.Todothis,thestudentsareallraisingmoneytowardsfundingagalawherestudents
withdifferentcausesareFromthatinitialidea,thehopequicklyexpandedintotheambitionof
helpingteenagerswithanymentaldisorders,whilestillkeepingafocusondepressionand
suicidepreventionandassistance.Asplanningfundraisersandmakinggoalsstarted,thevisions
towardsthosetheycouldhelpgrew.Thestudentsrealizedthattheyalsowantedtobring
resourcestothosewhoareclosetoateenagerswithmentaldisorders.
TheessentialobjectiveoftheTWHHProjectistoraiseawarenessforteenmentalhealth,
althoughiteventuallystretchedtobringingprogramstootherschoolstohelpteenagersplagued
byworriesandconcernsvent.OneprogrambeingbroughttotheotherschoolsisknownasDay
ofP.E.A.C.E..DayofP.E.A.C.E.isadaywherestudentsofallgradesareseparatedintorandom
groupswhereapeerwillleadthemthroughsmallactivitiesandconversationsabouttroublesor
stressestheyfindthroughouttheirlives.Beinginrandomgroupsallowstheparticipating
studentstogetawayfrompeerpressureinitiatedbytheirfriendsandspeaktolisteningstudents.
Itcanprovideaplacewherestudentsconnectonsimilarsimpleworriesorletoutpersonal
problemstoattentiveears.Inordertoavoidunwantedpairings,asurveywillbesentout
beforehandtothestudentstoallowtheseparticipatingstudentstohaveachancetostatewho
theywouldfeeluncomfortablewith,ifanyone.Eachgroupwillhaveafacilitatorwhowillhave
tostartplanningascheduleofdifferentactivitiesatthebeginningoftheyear.Peercounselingis

39
averysimilarprogrambeingbroughttootherschools.Insteadofbeingseparatedintoalarge
groupandhavingoneassigneddaybytheauthorityoftheschool,studentswillbeableto
scheduleatimeanddatewithapeerwhohasgonethroughtrainingtolistentothestudenttalk
abouttheirproblem.Itcanbeoneononeorinsmallgroups,allowingthestudenttofeelless
pressurefromanadulttoweringoverthemandaskingabouttheirpersonallife.
InordertohelpotherslearnmoreabouttheTWHHProjectscause,adocumentaryis
alsobeingfilmed.ItwillcontainfootageoftheprocessthestudentstaketobringtheTWHH
Projectouttothepublicandraiseawarenessforteenmentalhealth.Theearlierprocesswillbe
reflectedinstudentscontactingorganizations,suchasNAMI,brainstormingideasandplans,as
wellasworkwithintheirassignedgroups.Astheprojectcontinues,thedocumentarywillcover
morephasesthestudentstakepartinalongwithinterviewsandsmallerproductshots.Thisfilm
willbesubmittedtotheEyewitnessVideochallengeinordertogainfundingfortheProjectand
spreadmoreawarenessofTWHHProjectscause.Thiswillhelpgainmoresupportersfor
TWHHProjectaswellasspreadmoreawarenessacrossthewidelyusedinternet.
Otherthansolelybringingprogramstootherschools,studentsarealsocreatingpersonal
orpartnerprojectstohelpbringawareness.Inordertonotlimitthestudentsintheircreations,
studentsweregiventwosolerequirements:tosupporttheoverallgoalofraisingawarenessfor
teenmentalawarenessandtobecompletedbythegala.Throughthis,studentsareabletocreate
awidevarietyofdifferentproductsfromartworktovideostoselfwrittensongs.Allofthese
productswillsupportthecauseofteenmentalhealthfromtheperspectiveofthestudents.
AllfundswillbeusedtowardsthegalabeingheldonMay5th.Whatevermoneyis
raisedtherewillbeturnedovertoanotherorganization,mostlikelyNAMI,tohelpcontinue
raisingawarenessonmentalhealth.

WrappingitUp
Withthisproject,studentswillspreadsuicideawarenessandpreventionthroughoutthe
currentgenerationwiththesupportoftheNationalAllianceofMentalIllness(NAMI).
The
NAMImissionisto:
1. Supportpeoplewithmentalhealthconditionsandtheirfamiliesbyhelpingthem
findcopingmechanismsfortheirdailystrugglewithbraindisorders.
2. Educatepeoplewhohavementalhealthconditions,theirfamilies,andthegeneral
publicaboutmentalhealthwiththegoalofdispellingignoranceandstigma.
3. Advocateformoreresearchandanimprovedsystemofmentalhealthservices
acrossthenation.AttheheartofNAMISanDiegoisthesharingofinformation
&strivingtoendthestigmaassociatedwithmentalillness.
ThesegoalsfalldirectlyinlinewiththeTogetherWeHaveHopeProject.NAMIhas
generouslyofferedtohelpguideandassiststudentsthroughthisprocess.Studentswillrecord
everystepofthewaywithhopestomakeadocumentarywithenoughmovingmaterialtowina
videocontest.Planshavebeenmadetovisitotherschoolsandinterviewpeoplewhohavebeen

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affectedbysuicideormentalhealthconditions.Stickersandbraceletswithourlogowillbe
printedandmadetospreadthewordaboutwhatwearedoing.

Alongwithgroupprogress,studentshavestartedtheirownindividualprojects,each
significanttosuicideandmentalhealthawareness.Arelevantideaistoshowindividualshowto
livewiththeirmentalhealthconditionsandpreventthemfromtakingtheirlivesthrough
alternatemethodssuchasmusicandwriting.
Itiscompletelyunrealistictobelievethatwecanpreventeveryteeneverfromkilling
themselves,andthatisntourgoal.Ouraimistospreadawareness,showpeoplefromallwalks
oflifethatsuicideandmentalhealthconditionsareveryseriousandrelevanttopicsandevenif
itdoesntaffectthempersonallytheyshouldstillcare.Weplantospreadawarenessby
helpingpeoplefindawayofcopingwiththeirmentalhealthandhopefullythiswillshowthem
thatthereisabrighterfutureforthemselvesthantheyoncethought.Theymustknowthat
suicideisapermanentsolutiontoatemporaryproblem.
Byfollowingthisplan,TWHHwillmeetitsgoals.