Mossy Monkey ([info]mossymonkey) wrote,
@ 2008-05-19 10:45:00
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Not Tom Cruise, but Psycho-Bashing Anyway
I get offended at contemporary psychology's use of the term "suicidal ideation," which implies, by its very presence, dire mental imbalance necessitating medication if not hospitalization. For most of the writers I know, myself included, "suicidal ideation" is just part of the cognitive background noise. For some of us it's louder than for others, but for few, if any, is it not present at all. What's really offensive about how psychology deals with the situation is that it substitutes a monolithic, clinical definition that eliminates all complexity and nuance for what we recognize as a complex and genuine set of existential questions.   

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(Anonymous)
2008-05-20 02:14 pm UTC (link)
Suicidal ideation must necessarily include intent, means and method to be clinically significant.
-J

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[info]mossymonkey
2008-05-20 03:04 pm UTC (link)
Iiinteresting. That would indicate that at least a few of the mental health care professionals I've been in contact with were jumping the gun a little. Granted, that might have been "defensive medicine" too.

And I've only had all of those three things align maybe three times in my life--maybe four. Still a good reason not to own a gun. Poetry is more fun anyway.

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[info]wolodymyr
2008-08-15 09:42 pm UTC (link)
J's right. They only get to take action if you tell them you've got tools and a plan. Getting on the freeway in vague hopes of joining a pile-up (as I did recurrently in law school) doesn't count.

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[info]jkason
2008-05-20 07:02 pm UTC (link)
I seem to recall one of the professors at WSU telling the story during orientation that she, a bunch of English / writing friends, and a science major were all hanging out one day when someone asked "when did you first think about suicide?" As I remember the story, everyone answered it like it was as simple as "what was your hometown?" until they got to the science major, who stared at them all and said, "Never! What is *wrong* with you people."

I've always loved that story, though it seems the psychology community wouldn't find it nearly as amusing as I do.

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[info]mossymonkey
2008-05-20 10:03 pm UTC (link)
Yes! I remember that event distinctly. Perhaps there's something about melancholia that leads to introspection that leads to writing and art.

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