Mormon Times Announces that Mormons Get Depressed, Too

[Guest]

Apparently, it is news that Mormons get depression. I thought it was pretty well known that Utah's population has a relatively high use of anti-depressants. Maybe not.

http://mormontimes.com/mormon_voices/gu ... g/?id=9471

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[_Morrissey]

Apparently, it is news that Mormons get depression. I thought it was pretty well known that Utah's population has a relatively high use of anti-depressants. Maybe not.

http://mormontimes.com/mormon_voices/gu ... g/?id=9471

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It appears from your post that you did not read the article. The author was not saying Mormons do not get depressed; he was saying the exact opposite. The title is intentionally misleading--to grab attention and serve as a counterpoint for the article.

All in all, I thought it a decent article with an important message.

[_cinepro]

It appears from your post that you did not read the article.

You don't even have to read the whole article. Just the first couple paragraphs will do:

FYI: We Latter-day Saints get depression and anxiety like any other mortals. To think and act otherwise would be the same as to pretend we are above the laws of nature. To say that membership in the church is a ticket to a world free of depression and anxiety is like saying that all babies born in the covenant don't get colic. It is equally untrue that no kid in Primary acts out, no young men and women in Mutual have acne, missionaries never get sick and high priests don't have heart attacks.

It just ain't so.

[_mms]

Of course, I read the article. I think I caused confusion by quoting the title of the article in the title of my post. My point was that, apparently, THE DESERET NEWS (Mormon TIMES) THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO LET OTHER Mormons KNOW THAT Mormon'S GET DEPRESSION TOO. Thus, it seems they were of the opinion that Mormons are not aware that they get depression. See what I mean? (I changed the title and maybe that will reduce confusion re my point in posting.)

[_cinepro]

Of course, I read the article. I think I caused confusion by quoting the title of the article in the title of my post. My point was that, apparently, THE DESERET NEWS (Mormon TIMES) THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO LET OTHER Mormons KNOW THAT Mormon'S GET DEPRESSION TOO. Thus, it seems they were of the opinion that Mormons are not aware that they get depression. See what I mean?

The article (written by an MD) seems to be aimed towards reducing the stigma of depression among LDS, or the perception that it is a character defect of some sort.

Certainly, I've seen quotes from Church leaders in the past implying that spiritual solutions are alone sufficient to help someone with depression. But there have been many article in the Ensign in the last few decades addressing the issue. I was surprised by how many times it's been brought up:

My Battle With Depression, February 1984

Why is my Wife (or Husband) Depressed?, March 1990

Mental Illness: In Search of Understanding and Hope, February 1989

Awake My Soul! Dealing Firmly With Depression, August 1978

and many others....

If you survey the articles over the decades, you'll see an increase in acceptance and emphasis on pharmaceutical solutions as pills like Prozac came on the market.

[_Morrissey]

Of course, I read the article. I think I caused confusion by quoting the title of the article in the title of my post. My point was that, apparently, THE DESERET NEWS (Mormon TIMES) THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO LET OTHER Mormons KNOW THAT Mormon'S GET DEPRESSION TOO. Thus, it seems they were of the opinion that Mormons are not aware that they get depression. See what I mean?

The article (written by an MD) seems to be aimed towards reducing the stigma of depression among LDS, or the perception that it is a character defect of some sort.

Certainly, I've seen quotes from Church leaders in the past implying that spiritual solutions are alone sufficient to help someone with depression. But there have been many article in the Ensign in the last few decades addressing the issue. I was surprised by how many times it's been brought up:

My Battle With Depression, February 1984

Why is my Wife (or Husband) Depressed?, March 1990

Mental Illness: In Search of Understanding and Hope, February 1989

Awake My Soul! Dealing Firmly With Depression, August 1978

and many others....

If you survey the articles over the decades, you'll see an increase in acceptance and emphasis on pharmaceutical solutions as pills like Prozac came on the market.

So much for the power of the priesthood. God is mighty stingy about those who he chooses to heal. Perhaps he's too busy finding lost keys and all.

[_cinepro]

So much for the power of the priesthood. God is mighty stingy about those who he chooses to heal. Perhaps he's too busy finding lost keys and all.

No no no! God uses the pharmaceutical industry to bless us.

Sadly, 99.999% of depressed people in the world's history have had to make do without pills to help them out, but those of us who have been depressed in the last 20 years have truly been blessed.