Today I have been exposed to something tragic.
I might be a young adult, but I am a writer and I will point out inconsistencies in the human condition.
A book by the title Tears of a Tiger has framed the issue of mental illness so badly it both angers and frightens me. This book frames the issue as "stupid" in horrendous writing. In recent events, a child has commited suicide in school.
I stopped to think.
I am suicidal. What if I had a bad day today? What if this was the breaking point?
It could have been me, or it could have been my friend, or next door neighbor.
Children don’t need to be shielded. We need proper education; we need a choice.
The reason this book fails so miserably is its framing. The book follows Andy, a young boy that kills his best friend in a car crash. This sends him spiraling into a deep depression. The book gets something right. Traumatic incidents can trigger depression.
This is where it fails. The professionals in Andy’s life fail to see his obvious inner turmoil. This would work, if only it weren’t so obvious. Andy expresses his depression through humor,yet his grades are slipping, and he frequently bursts into tears. Why doesn’t anyone see this? This reason this rhetoric is dangerous, is that it frames professinals and incompetent, which discourages the depressed to seek help.
This book features so many characters--and terrible dialogue--that it cannot focus on the main point. The point being, how devastating suicide is for the depressed and for the people involved.
Depression is something that hides within me and only peers out occasionally. A professional knows this, and takes their time to diagnose. No therapist worth their degree ends therapy after three months.
Andy ultimately decides to end his life, but not before calling suicide “stupid.” After his death, the author details the thoughts of his friend and family, and I see that cursed word again. “Stupid.”
I only see that word when I have thoughts to end my life; it only makes me feel worse. Subsequently, I didn’t receive help until I failed to commit suicide. Don’t let the next child die or be diagnosed like this.
Authors Note: I have Major Depressive Disorder and suicidal ideation. Thinking about what would happen if I weren’t here to type this message, often crosses my mind. What scares most people, is my everyday. People fear death, but I don’t. These are my experiences. Feel free to share yours in the comment section.
Photo by rafa espada on Unsplash