There's really only one way for us to change that, and it is for each of us to individually stand up and speak out. I decided to put this page up right now in particular because of something that has happened that has quite shocked and horrified me. This is the mass suicide of the Heaven's Gate cult in Rancho Santa Fe, near San Diego, California. It's not quite right to say I'm inspired to write because of this - more that I'm disturbed enough by it that I need to write. Part of this is because of the suicide itself.
Manic depression can be a lethal illness.
I have been very profoundly depressed, and struggled with suicidal feelings. I spent quite a long time unable to get thoughts of suicide out of my mind. This is something all manic depressives experience. Many manic depressive attempt suicide, and some do kill themselves. Hearing about this suicide has brought back a lot of painful memories, memories that I would much rather avoid.