What Were They Thinking ?

[JenBKR]

lady_zana - I am totally with you on everything you said. I have been on anti-depressants for about 10 years or so....I always say that when I go through a bout of depression, I have to go into "survival mode." I do whatever I have to do to survive one day to the next. I don't know that committing suicide is selfish - I never quite got to that point. My mom also went through a very bad depression, much worse than mine, and I think she did get close to suicide. However, my father stood by her and they worked through it, though it took a lot of years.

I think of anti-depressants like insulin. Diabetics have to take insulin, and depressed people need serotonin. I am not embarrassed that I take Zoloft, but I wouldn't want people to know the person I become without medication. Luckily, medications have come a long way - I was even able to take Prozac throughout my pregnancy (and I am happy to say that my little man is as healthy as can be ).

[Karen]

There is nothing in the original story to suggest the parents were at all mentally ill, or suffering from depression.

I would characterize their suicide differently than that of someone who is mentally ill.

[Catty1]

I agree, Karen, as did Lady_Zana:

I do NOT feel that suicide is the ultimate act of selfishness. For someone people, yes it is. And just given the facts from this article, it seems that yes, for this couple it was.

The last few posts were in response to a poster who stated their opinion that ALL suicides were selfish. The responses, for the most part, came from people who have/had severe depression and other MI's (mental illnesses) as opposed to "down times" in their lives, and felt compelled to speak up.

In the Wikipedia page, one given reason for suicide is to escape punishment for a crime committed. That seems to be the case with this boy's parents.

[lizbud]

I believe when the parents called their son, it was because it made
them feel better(in their minds). They did it for selfish reasons and didn't
think how devastating it would be to the boy who was powerless to help
them in any way.


I believe the couple were in legal trouble for fraud & faced arrest and trial.