Scrooge; A Grouch or Victim of Depression?
	by Steve Hudson


The year is coming to an end.  Students are preparing for their trips home for the 
Holidays.  Families are preparing to host guests.  People are scurrying about trying 
to find the right gifts.  False prophets are making their predictions.  Everything is 
chaotic, yet joyful.  Children are making their lists, hinting to possible winners as 
they watch the toy commercials with their parents.  People are donating more to 
charities.

While many are experiencing joy and positive anticipation, more people than you’d 
realize are suffering from depression and are contemplating suicide.  Christmas sea-
son still yet holds the record for suicide attempts and successions per capita.

There are more suicides in the United States than there are homicides, averaging 
about 3,000 suicides each year, not to mention the attempts, whether it is due to 
depression or attention seeking. On an average day, 84 people die from suicide 
and an estimated 1,900 adults attempt suicide.

The #1 cause of suicide is the untreated illness, not weakness, of depression.  Of 
the millions of Americans that suffer from depression, only 80% are treatable ef-
fectively, with a bit more than half of these being properly diagnosed.  Only 30% 
of this 80% actually seek the help. There are about 25 suicide attempts for each 
completion causing an approximate of 775,000 attempts in the US yearly.

Females are more likely to attempt suicide, as males are four times as likely to suc-
ceed, with persons over the age of 65 taking most of the credit considering age 
groups, as opposed to the presupposition of teens being #1.  With youth, more 
teenagers and young adults died from suicide than died from cancer, heart disease, 
AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease 
combined back in 1992.

The main reason why I bring up this topic is because each suicide directly affects 
6 other people intimately.  Many people around this time of the year are thinking 
about tough issues like what they’ve done or haven’t done in the past year.  From 
this, they feel as if they have wasted a complete year.  Much of the "wrongs" are 
commonly over-emphasized above the positive things that have occurred through-
out the year.

They highly see in misperception how much of an impact suicide would have on 
their family and friends.  Despite the victim’s view, people would be deeply grieved 
if one were to do away with him or herself.

"But this is a Christian college, and this is a small town.  People don’t get like that 
here."  I beg to differ.  Just because one is a Christian, it doesn’t mean that every-
thing is gold and glittery.  We are not of this world, but we are in this world.  Rain 
falls on the righteous and the unrighteous.  Depression affects both non-Christians 
and Christians.  We’d rather not believe this, but it’s true.

There are several things, usually things that are quite obvious, to detect depres-
sion.  Some of the less than obvious things to look for are 1) final arrangements--
fixing broken relationships, making a will, and giving away items, and 2) a suddenly 
elevated mood--usually stems from being "relieved that it’ll be over."

If you are suspicious of one that is thinking of suicide, ASK QUESTIONS.  Don’t 
feel like you’re invading other people’s privacy.  Don’t challenge the individual and 
don’t leave them alone.  They need your support.  If need be, try taking them to 
a hospital, crisis center, a doctor, or a loving friend.  In emergency, call the police 
department. Be a supporter but not an exploiter.  Try to relate and show your 
compassion.

We cannot blow people off if they seem to be depressed, even if they seem as if 
they are seeking attention.  Whether they are suicidal or not, this "attention" is 
being stemmed from SOME area that needs to be dealt with. 

Above all, pray for them.  God’s in tap with what they are going though.  Ask for 
guidance and gentleness as you speak, or plan speaking, with the individual.  God 
can help.  Be persistent.  Explain to the individual what they mean not only to you 
but also how they are viewed in God’s eyes.

Many who are Christians yet are depressed often have a warped view of God’s 
favor for them.  Jesus died for you.  You mean something to Him.  Not only did 
He die for you, but He has also a plan for you.  And this is the time of the year 
[in theory] that He came to us to show His love.

Jesus loves you!

If one needs help: Life Crisis Services’ 24-hour hotline: 314.647.4357

© 1998 Greenville Papyrus, admin. by STRTJCKT Publishing, 2003