(no subject)

Anyone else see the article on almost-suicides in Metro today? I think it's very responsible of Metro to support CALM, but as someone affected by the issues the campaign covers, the article was bloody useless! A professional skateboarder who became Depressed when he fractured his neck and lost two people close to him? A professional snowboarder who became Depressed when he contracted diabetes? A professional gambler who became Depressed when he suffered some unspecified woman-trouble? How exactly do any of those relate to the vast majority of the population who suffer Depression? Where are the tales of the ordinary working Joes who suffer Depression because they have a shitty job, no money to acquire new skills and hence a better job, no friends because the job requires a long day, and no hope because without the money, skills and friends, he's going to be stuck in the shitty job for the rest of his miserable short life?

When I was in school, I decided I would never stick with a job I didn't want to do. I suspect lots of people do. But how many of them are lucky enough to turn that resolution into reality? How many of them slog their guts out and keep getting turned down for their dream job, and end up in one they don't want. And how many of them see other people who appear to get handed whatever they want on a bloody plate, without apparent effort, time and time again? I know a couple of people who are in the latter category, and I've been very firmly placed in the first.