Weird mental health question - suicide

Hypothetically,
If someone was normal in most ways, but has been very unhappy with their life for years, and sees no change in their future that could possibly lead to personal happiness, what does the desire to kill him/herself, say about their mental health? [They do not consider themselves depressed, because although they are unhappy with their life, they are able to work, function normally] Would you consider them:

-Relatively normal - the suicidal ideation does not make them 'crazy' or even depressed, they are just being very realistic about how they feel & the course of their life & realize they'd rather not live it.

-Mentally unstable, because anyone without serious mental/physical disability should always have the will to live

or something else?

 

"but has been very unhappy with their life for years, and sees no change in their future that could possibly lead to personal happiness"

In all honesty, this doesn't make a lot of sense. First of all, normal is different for different people. Secondly, being unhappy for a long period of time and seeing no hope for the future IS depression. The ability to function normally while being unhappy is just the ability to hide their pain.

So, I would say that yes, they are mentally unstable and in all honesty they are most likely much more mentally unstable than most people with depression (or not wanting to admit they are depressed as you are trying to make this sound.)

The reason I would say they are more unstable is because they are in your words "functioning normally" and by this I am assuming they are receiving no help and not dealing with their unhappiness. They are not doing anything to try and make their life any better or to find happiness.

By hiding their pain, not facing their pain, and not getting help they are unstable and liable to snap and spiral into an even deeper state of depression. Yes, they also could do something radical, like follow through with that desire to kill himself/herself.

This is a horrible and very sad way to live. I know, because I've been doing it for years. I have a very "normal" *cough* life. My family, friends, and outsiders think I'm a very happy and upbeat person. However, on the inside, I've been wishing I was dead since I was in middle school.

I know I'm liable to snap and fall into the darkest sadness I can imagine.. because it happens sometimes.

((hugs))

 

if you have a desire to intentionally harm or kill yourself, you need help, you're not normal you may be depressed and need mental help. I'd go talk to a doctor, hypothetically of course...

 

Just because a person doesn't believe themselves to be depressed doesn't mean that they aren't. Wanting to kill yourself, not being able to see that you have control over what you do in your life and the ability to move forward and understand that life is still worth living is depression. It may not be depression in the sense of being manic, or bipolar, but it's still depressive thoughts and getting help to sort it out is a viable option, because sometimes we all need help through times like these in our lives.

 

it is extremely healthy to commite suicide!
well, at least the japanese thought so... at one time.
at different times in history and, in different cultures, those who killed themselves, were granted the honor of becomming gods. at other times, in different cultures and history, their bodies were pissed and shat upon.

the mental health field, uses a book called the dsm to answer those questions. the dsm is now going through it's 5th revision and, fuck it! not even the god damn experts, can agree on much of anything!

i am afraid, that what you ask, has more to do with philosophy and religion at, different points in history.
no doubt, that as time moves on, so shall what is "adnormal" and "normal" around the questions of suicide as well.
oh, by the way, at this time in history, if you want to kill yourself... you are considered a "sick fuck" and, treatment will be forced on you by the state, for your own good.
so, don't even think about trying it!

 

Get help

 

sounds like situational depression. dunno if it's a clinical term, but yeah. depression is depression, regardless if it's from a chemical imbalance or your life situation.

 

right, thats the general consensus. I was wondering what people here think personally about the situation I posed.
and people - this was not a cry for help! I never said it had anything to do with me! i am still waiting for answers to the question, except for those who said wanting to die always means depression - therefore I guess you do assume that mental health must be compromised..
This is purely about your opinion towards suicide in the case that i described.

 

The DSM is such a dangerous book. So many people get their hands on it, go through their symptoms and try to diagnose their self with it, when as you said, even the experts can't agree that its accurate, because the DSM is such a straight forward generalization of mental illness.

It amuses me, this whole conversation and the view of mental illness symptoms through history. In my research on mental illness at the turn of the century for my book, the "experts" used to believe that biting your nails was a sign of being a sociopath. If that's the case, then so many of us are just fucked.