Hey, all...

I was surfing around the net tonight in an attempt to find some info on an independent film released last year, titled "It Was Always Me" (I was reading reviews of a Simply Red CD on Amazon, and someone mentioned that a song I love, "Sunrise" is featured in the film). Apparently, it was in VERY limited release, and I ended up finding not much at all about it except for a few well-written reviews. It does exist, though, as the reviews talk about how it is a serious story about the unique emotional confusion and self-loathing of today's 20-somethings. Of course, I haven't had an opportunity yet to see the film, but all of the 3 reviews I found mentioned that the story was not written to be "hip"--it really seemed to want to examine why the young people of today are so wracked with depression, anxiety, and a whole slew of other mental health issues. For example, a quote from one review says that the characters at one point talk about "living in an "Oprahfied" world where they must believe that everything has a deeper meaning".

This got me to thinking about these issues. I was born in 1977, so technically I am one of those people who was on the tail end of Generation X and the beginning of Generation Y. And sure enough, it seems that it is more of an event to find someone my age who is NOT on antidepressants, in therapy, or otherwise living with some type of internal conflict. I know that every generation has its troubles, but...in my talks with those older than I, I get the impression that today's youth are facing something different. (And I also know that I shouldn't generalize, and that I could very easily be wrong. THat's just what I've seemed to pick up).

I haven't been able to find (so far, anyway) any more scientific studies on "y-ers" and anxiety/depression, but it is something that is definitely real and thriving. The real question is why.

I'd love to hear the board's thoughts on this issue. Is depression/anxiety just more known now, or are we seeing an actual increase in people who are suffering with depression? And if so, what is the cause?

Maybe being in my 40s gives me a different perspective. Your generation has been exposed to so much more information and from so many different sources than mine was. My question would be "Is it depression itself which is on the increase or could it be just the diagnosis of the condition? In my day, it was unheard of to put teens and children on prescription medication such as antidepressants or those for ADHD, an all too common practice today. It seems like nothing short of a crime how this generation is being medicated by the millions. Even as a young adult, all you need do is fill out a series of general questions in your doctor's office and, if your "score" happens to be below some predetermined level, you then qualify to be "put on meds". If you're truly depressed, you know it. Remember, the drug companies are just another busine$$ with the same goal of selling as much of their product as po$$ible. Think about it.

I think that there was probably as much depression & other mental illnesses in other generations, but it was a taboo subject. Most people were either way out there & put in an insitution & the others managed to survive with hiding their problems. At least now, people CAN get a diagnosis, CAN get meds & CAN talk about it without the fear of "being locked up" in an institution. There is a lot more knowledge about mental illness and it's about time. No one should have to be afraid to admit they have an illness of any kind. I do feel there is still a stigma attached to any mental illness in the work place, though. I know of several people who were "let go" due to depression. Of course, the employer did not say that, but it isn't hard to figure out.
Maybe our government needs some new laws concerning employment & people who suffer from mental illness.