Big picture for baby boomers on depression and aging

Got an article in today's Wall Street Journal about Robin Williams suicide as it relates to suicide rates of the BBB boomers between the ages 35 and 64. Reported by Zusha Ellison. Traditionally suicide occurs more often in older people. This is consistent with two recent blogs that I wrote about. Aging I believe brings its own problems of suicide. Lifelong struggles with self-esteem and mental health, stress can pay a toll on people as they age. Sometimes the older we live our options seem less. Certainly in our health issues we can face problems that are life-threatening. There is also something that happens to our very minds as we get older like every other part of her body our brains can show where and tear. 

It seems suicide is declining for people who live past 75. This makes sense to me for two reasons: one, if you lived to 75 you were probably healthier to begin with both in the mind and body. And the longer you live the truer that would seem to be. I have read studies from different countries and those who live a long life are going to be people who more likely can handle stress. People who had health problems earlier in their 50s and 60s like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes have a harder time living older and need more medical invention. Two, people who have economic and social stress along with drug abuse and alcohol were themselves at higher risk for suicide. I read a quote that Robin Williams apparently said, "I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel all alone." – Robin Williams No matter what problems you have I believe there's hope if you're willing to want to deal with it.

Like many comedians who say good things, they often have insight into their emotional sides. One of the things that article brought out is our increasing isolation from each other. It's ironic that the very blessing sharing on my blog shows another phenomena of our life on the computer. People spend more time under devices than they do with each other.

I noticed a trend in education. 25 to 30 years ago the teachers lounge, due to having a place for people to smoke, created quite a place for dialogue and debate. At the time I was just a young guy listening to the old sea lions as they bellowed their sage wisdom. For me it was actually informative, funny, entertaining and at least worth three graduate courses of knowledge. When I retired from education, we were healthier because of non-smoking, but the teachers lounge was more isolated with individual groups staying within their little friendships. And as I walked the halls of the school I notice more and more teachers would spend time under computers rather than their comrades of arms. Even when the kids were in the classroom teachers would be on their computers and not engage with their students. To be fair in the good old days teachers may have spent time reading the newspaper or book and not be engage with the students. Different tools with the same problem, people not engaged in a dynamic classroom.

Believe it or not, I would rather bring back the smoking and bull sessions over one's favorite drink then the corporation training that education has become. It is always more refreshing to hear honest opinion than political correctness that bores me to tears.

So Robin Williams makes us more aware of the problem of drugs both prescription and not and alcohol and how that those things hinder dealing with depression. It seems everybody who knew him or had contact with him made a similar observation, “Robin is a class act and often took time to cheer others up,” like Christopher Reeve when he underwent back surgery. Many were asking today, “Why he couldn't get help?” That will always remain to me an unanswered question. Depression will always remain a complicated and painful experience where there are victories and defeats. 

One of the last good points that was pointed out is the fact that baby boomers wanted to deny aging. And when ageing happens, they seem less prepared for that then earlier generations. On one hand we have the AARP ideal of happy sunset experiences. I am actually all for that at least most of my days. But then there's the other side of aging which has its challenges that we have to do our best to cope with. If we can't face our challenges, they may do us in. 

For now what can we learn from our explorations with depression: 

• Put a psychiatric expert on our medical team as we get older. It is always good to be prepared if something does come up.
• Be more aware of drugs and alcohol and how they affect our discernment and mental state. 
• Become more aware of how our mind changes as we get older. Like every other system in the body there's always something. 
• If you have stress in your life, don't deny it, don't do nothing about it. Stress can hurt the body and mind and finding ways to reduce it is always a good idea. 
• Live life, keep developing friends. Remember computers are a thing and a tool, people are the real deal. Give less time to negative people and more time to people that really care about you. And don't forget care about them. 

Keep walking

http://online.wsj.com/articles/robin-williamss-age-group-at-heightened-suicide-risk-1407875597