Want to end it all? Wait 6 months!
GGZ Friesland (a mental healthcare organization) will be sending ex-patients a picture postcard to prevent them from committing suicide.
Six months after their treatment with GGZ has finished, they will receive the picture postcard with the question ‘how are you doing?’ and a personal message from their own healthcare worker. Australian research showed that such a sign of care and involvement can prevent people from committing suicide. For people who feel depressed again such a postcard will hopefully be a motivation to seek help.
In the same edition of the newspaper:
Suicide and depression are costing Japan billions
Japan has one of the world’s highest suicide rates. Last year almost 33,000 Japanese people ended their lives. For the last 12 years the suicide rate in Japan has been structurally above 30,000. Top of the top-list (sorry, very inconsiderate of me) is Belarus. Japan is No. 8 on the list.
We just can’t help it
If you favour beautiful people and ignore ugly ducklings, you can’t help that. It is nestled somewhere deep within our being. Subconsciously we prefer more attractive people. Even if we don’t want to judge someone solely on his or her looks, subconsciously we do. Attractive people get better jobs, earn more money and get shorter prison sentences. So we do not purposely discriminate less attractive people, we just can’t help it. This is the conclusion of research by the University of Nijmegen.
Sniffer dog hunting for bacteria
Sniffer dog Cliff will be assisting the VU hospital in Amsterdam in their battle against the hospital bacterium clostridium difficile, that can cause severe diarrhoea. The two year old beagle Cliff has been trained to search for patients who are infected with this bacterium, so these patients can be isolated to prevent further spreading of the disease.
I don't think I've had enough coffee yet, because for some reason I giggled quite inappropriately at the first part! Please forgive me, I just suddenly had a vision in my head of a person who hadn't really been giving it much thought, getting the postcard "How are you doing?" pausing to evaluate and then trouping merrily to the top of a mountain all "Today is a good day to die."
ReplyDeleteReally, I'm appalled with myself, because I don't think depression is even in the least funny. It's serious stuff, and people suffering from it have only my compassion.
But my love of dark comedy had me conjuring goofy images of "Well I was fine until you asked! Thanks a lot! Time to snuff it."
Then the third thing made me think, "Oooooh. Helen of Troy could have gone on a hell of a crime spree then, eh?"
I very clearly need lots more coffee. I'm goofy when under caffeinated. Fun post, for me, clearly :-)
Land of shimp,
ReplyDeletehaha, don't feel bad, I purposely didn't add my own comments to these messages. They would have been along the same line as your thoughts. Very much so actually. Not to mention what my thoughts were concerning the sniffer dog who can smell severe cases of diarrhoea ;-)
(and of course people who suffer from depression, not such good looks and diarrhoea, or even worse, all of those things at the same time, have my sympathy too)
I wonder what happens to the ex-patients who top themselves less than 6 months after their treatment ended. Well, obviously, they're pushing up daisies now, but what I really wonder is how many people could been saved if they'd got postcards, say, one month after they left and then every month after that. 'Oh,no, not another bloody postcard - why can't the buggers leave me alone. I'm going to end it all.'
ReplyDeleteAs for Cliff - maybe he doesn't have to get too close. A dog's sense of smell is very acute so maybe he identifies them before an internal eruption has occurred, when it then becomes apparent to everyone;-)
But what if you want to kill yourself BECAUSE you are not considered attractive by others, your dog has told all his friends you are subject to bouts of severe diarrhea, and your personal healthcare workers keeps sending you picture post cards asking how you are doing? Huh? Huh?
ReplyDeleteToo funny!
Hmm, I wonder why they wait so long. I am so hopeful that government health care will help so many here in the US. I know it won't be easy to implement, but I pray it will come together without too many growing pains!
ReplyDeleteJabblog,
ReplyDeletemy thoughts exactly. And apparently Cliff can 'smell' the bacterium that causes the diarrhoea. Which is quite remarkable. Otherwise they could have just employed a human being with a sense of smell to sniff the patients. What a wonderful job that will be ;-/
RWP,
Indeed!
Mimi,
The Government health care system works in our country and I really hope it will be implemented in your country soon and without any hickups ;-) I'm sure many people will benefit.
Perhaps people who suffer from depression should take up blogging?
Wait a minute! Showing care and concern for people may help them to be happier? Wow!
ReplyDeleteDuh.
Oops! That's not quite in the spirit, is it? Sorry!
I swear to God - and I wouldn't say that lightly in this instance - my word verification was "BLESS".
ReplyDeleteI think all people feel better when somebody shows concern for their wellbeing- it's not only people with mental health problems! :)
ReplyDeleteSuldog,
ReplyDeletedo you sometimes have the feeling Someone is watching over your shoulder and making up fun word verifications? I do!
Jinksy,
And how are yóu doing? ;-)
AMAZING and all true! Woo!
ReplyDeleteThere are animals they use here to tell Dr.s
who is going to have a heart attack! I beleive it!That Post card is bizzareo, that marketing for ya...a phone call, though time consuming, would be much more personal!
Hope you are well dear, Thanks sooo much for your continued friendship here. I appreciate it.
I did not go on the trip today...as over Tues night, my mares were attacked by a COUGAR in the field-overnight-. I had aksed for them to NOT be left out at night last week, anymore. So the fact theyn were, on the ONLY day my barn ownere KNEW I'd be missing form the barn. pisses me off since this happend to them. I am horrified.
MY mare is clawed up, on one side...waiting to see if infection is going to set in, today I will know if the vet comes again.
I am moving in 2 weeks, maybe sooner. I am heart sick( and vasilating towards =steaming mad) for the injuies and can't even post on it!
Say a prayer for me please...giving notice today.
Kac
(HA- my word veri word- FORKING-
We Just Can't Help It - NOT TRUE. I delibertly chose the ugliest cat at the humane society because I figured no one else would adopt him and then he would die.
ReplyDeleteSuicides in Japan - I once read that if Japanese business men are shamed, they are expected to commit suicide to avoid dealing with the embarrassemnt of screwing up. Weird.