I happen to believe that it's more often than not that an individual makes terrible decisions that lead to chronic depression rather than the other way around. It is not nearly as likely that he had this manic depressive disorder (whatever type it may be) before he made these other decisions which we'll all agree are boneheaded.
With all of that said, I still feel for anyone that develops this serious type of mental illness. Suicidal thoughts are very serious and are not a joking matter. We can say it's his own doing all we want and it may very well be true, but it's no less sad. I hope he gets himself straight and doesn't squander away a dream job that any of us would love to have.
Sorry, RAcker, but that is completely wrong. Mental illness is the reason people make those bad decisions. When they are bi-polar, which most who have depression are, it is the highs that cause them to make dumb decisions like spending too much money, gambling beyond their means, illegal behavior, dangerous behavior. it's because when we are on those highs we feel omnipotent and think nothing can happen to us.
When depressed we take drugs, drink alcohol, try anything and everything we can to get back to that feeling of feeling omnipotent again. Unfortunately, it doesn't work and feeling or worthlessness and paranoia settle in and cause one to self medicate some more and then feelings of solitude and exhaustion kick in and you spiral downward into oblivion.
Mental illness takes away a person's ability to reason through decisions and makes everything you decide to do an impulse decision. it really is the complete and utter opposite as to what you think.
Nick, with all due respect, by your way of looking at things, everyone whoever does anything wrong would be excused as mentally ill. I truly believe that mental illness is real. I do not dispute that. However, I do take issue with what causes it. There is scientific evidence to support both of our sides depending on who the subject is. In some cases, mental illness can exist in a person due to genetics, chemical imbalances or because of traumatic experiences which were no fault of their own (rape, war, abuse, etc.)
However, my point is that with chronic depression, it is often found that an individual has done something to contribute to the problem. For instance, abuse of drugs by a curious teenager is not mental illness. They did not try the drug because they were crazy. They might have just wanted to see what it was like. However, if they do too much for too long, they might develop mental illnesses associated to these choices because of what the drugs do to them chemically or because of things they do while under the influence. In such cases, the mental illness comes as a result of life choices instead of the other way around.
I happen to know of a kid that had a good upbringing and he started making some bad decisions in his life (drugs, etc.). Instead of blaming himself and becoming depressed, he blamed his parents for being too hard on him and he shot them both. It's difficult to blame anyone but him for that when he was completely able to explain to the authorities exactly why he felt he was justified when he admitted that there was zero abuse in the home.
They even tried to get him help for his drug problem. It's hard for me to think that his mental illness came before the drug problem did.
I am definitely not highly knowledgable of psychology, but from everything I know, I think the knife cuts both ways. So, for you to say I'm completely wrong I think is an overstatement. I don't mean to argue. Truce.