I’ve known people to hide depression for all of their lives and one day they simply have enough, they’ve had enough of the battle, some of these people and its really true you’d never know, money? Depression doesn’t care, houses? Depression doesn’t care, beautiful wife children, ditto.
Some people are born differently and thats is all there is too it, its a crippling thing and something that you can not explain, there are so many different types so the discussion its infinite.
And its something I hope you conquer or manage.
Just stop posting videos saying depression is a con
I don’t think Pap is disrespecting anyone struggling with mental ill health, probably more big pharma and those looking to make a profit. Look at ADHD - was never a problem until it got discovered and chemical coshes were found to control it. Too many vested interests looking to protect their livelihoods and shareholder value to really and honestly care about those genuinely affected.
I may be wrong of course…
Maybe you ought to watch the video.
That’s not what it says at all.
Mate, I’ve got people close in my life that have suffered, including one diagnosed with bipolar disorder, others that have been through post-natal depression, and a mate who was prescribed amitriptylene from his late teens and fucked it off in his mid-twenties, a period which coincided with him getting most areas of his life sorted out.
I’m not saying clinical depression is not a thing.
I’m not saying depression is not a thing.
But I do think that the vast amount of people suffering depression, diagnosed or not, are suffering for situational reasons which won’t be fixed by addressing a chemical imbalance they do not have.
Surroundings may well play a part for some but for all? No way, not a chance.
If you’re saying drug companies profit from depression and selling said drugs and doctors simply giving them out then of course you’re correct, look at the US? Advertising pain killers during the Super Bowl half time but some people are way beyond drugs reaches, its just a matter of time.
Which is something mentioned in the OP and at other points in the thread. You’re contesting a position I avoided from the start.
The thread title is provocative, as often, but it’s a question, not a statement.
"Depression is measured on the Hamilton scale. There are 51 points on the scale. At the happiest point, you’re in ecstasy. At your lowest, you’re acutely suicidal. According to Johann Hari, just getting a good nights sleep moves you six points toward ecstasy. Getting a shit night’s sleep takes you six points down the scale.
Anti-depressants, on average, make people 1.8 points happier. While that’s going to be incredibly useful for people at the acutely suicidal end of the scale, it does beg the question as to whether these things are being massively over prescribed.
The story about the introduction of chemical anti-depressants in Cambodia is excellent"
Then links to a video by Joe Rogan who is an expert
Joseph James Rogan is an American stand-up comedian, martial arts color commentator and podcast host. A fan of comedy since his youth, Rogan began a career in stand-up in August 1988 in the Boston area, developing a blue comedy act.
Would is “depression medication a con?” be a better title?
I think there is probably over use of medication in some areas. There is some evidence that some GP surgeries have a bit of a relationship with pharmacy companies.
patients-pharma-payments-doctors-database
In work and outside work I meet or know people with depression. They have difficulties for numerous reasons. These are then exacerbated by what else is happening in their lives. Dante-esque systems that make life harder. For some a little bit of medication helps, for others a lot of medication helps stablise them when in serious crisis, sometimes it doesn’t work as they may need something else.
No disrespect, @saintbristol . but what commentary are you providing there that I did not already provide?
Is the intended audience supposed to sneer at the idea of a comedian having an opinion or a platform? My understanding is that they’ve often had both, and that often intersects with political issues.
I’m just not seeing the controversy or the context, dude.
A lot of my work recently has been arranging training for staff to notice when someone is starting to fall down and signpost to support in a non-judgmental way.
There’s so much stigma in the workplace, mainly through ignorance and fear, it’s heartbreaking - Even my own company acknowledges the length of the journey they still have to go…
I quite like Joe Rogan. Surely podcasts like this encourage discussion (as does this thread) around mental health and that has to be a good thing?
As for the ‘suggestion’ that having form as a blue comedian means you couldn’t possibly comment on mental health in any seriousness or with any value, well quite frankly that’s horseshit.
I think a lot of people are agreeing on this thread but the issue, as pap has recognised, is that the thread title is provocative and misleading. Depression is clearly not a con. The treatment of it maybe money driven. I’m not sure why a subject as sensitive as mental health needs to have a provocative thread title to stimulate discussion. At best, it’s ill advised.
The most sensible post. Depression is a catch all term for any mental malaise.
That’s not the issue, and as I said, the thread is a question, not a statement. The answer is up to you, and we’ll deal the topic less service if we fret over the thread title instead of discussing the substance.
This is not Twitter. A scan read ain’t going to do it. My personal opinion is that @saintbristol has jumped the gun a bit, something I have personally done loads myself.
I overreacted sorry. It’s a sensitive subject.
I’m tired sorry and my ribs hurt 
Fair play, @saintbristol . It’s honestly not my intent to upset you. I’m not shopping for beef. I’ve seen depression up close and personal, and I could see the terrible toll it took on people in those moments.
I guess my main point is that if there are pragmatic solutions to depression that aren’t about rebalancing chemicals, we should always favour them, especially if they cure the problem instead of mitigating it.