The media, collectively, does not cover suicide by average American citizens, presumably to dissuade would-be "copycat" suicides. I have no idea whether the media's position on this helps or harms us as a society, but at least they can cite a reason for their stance.
Suicide comes from within, and I'm just sure that the delicate internal balance of thought and environment can sometimes trigger enough despair to carry it out. Intensify such volatility with a powerful drug and the environment inside can inspire reactions that the rest of us would never imagine or understand.
I recall having read many years ago of a large number of what I think were Japanese citizens committing suicide by leaping off the platform in front of oncoming subway trains. As an effort to combat such occurrences, MIRRORS were positioned so that anyone wishing to leap to his death in front of an oncoming train would have to watch himself DO so. This simple ploy greatly reduced the number of suicides in such locations.
I can understand, logically, reaching a point of such despair, for any of many possible reasons: (job, romance, family, crime, etc. ) ... most just have a familiarity which affords them a direction toward which they can turn when something goes really bad. That can be in the form of a ultra-trusted friend, or an understanding of the wonders of therapy.
It isn't generally the level at which someone lives his or her life that alone inspires them to consider suicide, for there are always people living 'lower' than you are, no matter how bad it gets. My own perception is that the angle at which one descends from what was probably a familiar and steady level of existence, to a new and lower level of existence, is a central factor in creating the perception of enough despair to consider suicide.
Never have I been particularly close to somebody who evolved to commit suicide but there have been a few people tangent to my life who chose that option.
Because of the lack of media coverage, and because Carly Henley was such a compelling woman, there are just so many questions which go unanswered in the minds of the masses. Now of course Carly's family should be under zero obligation to clue anybody in about what added understanding they might have, or about what the note to her mother may have disclosed. In direct contrast to Bernie Madoff's son, it is just that sort of empty uncertainty as to how Carly came to her final decisions which leaves so many people so deeply saddened.
I can't even fathom how many thousands of people would have loved to have known a chance to encounter Carly as she was on her final path toward such a destiny. It makes the most sense, and feels the most comfortable to the human mind, to imagine that the new Zoloft which Carly had recently begun taking was the core cause of her sudden choice to end her life.
It is interesting, I think, that Carly apparently began taking Zoloft just as her junior year of college was about to start. After a summer of living at home and working at a coffee shop she would have made the effort to do something, pharmaceutically, in response to how she must've been feeling. Maybe this was a seeming effort to even bring herself up to university-speed as the school year loomed immediately ahead.
So then, suddenly, the environment changes (back to something that had, admittedly, once been familiar - but perhaps not during the course of Carly's depression). I still can't quite 'get' to a place where I understand or even imagine the day-by-day, step-by-step path from the start of school to the end of her life 1 1/2 weeks later. I'm so lost, and especially saddened, to imagine such a shining star during the time period it took to write her mother a somber and final note.
Some people condemn those who choose suicide by observing how very, very cruel a thing it is to do to your loved ones and friends. For the life of me I just can't see the Carly Henley represented in this short blog as being able to orchestrate such a knowing wound to so many others. That's why it still makes the most sense to me to recognize the harsh impact of Zoloft on at least some people.
Per that link "the truth is antidepressants work well for many people".
It goes on to say:
"Antidepressants can cause serious side effects including risk of suicide"
Again, I still do not blame drug companies, or the system, but it just sucks that society lost a "Carly Henley" while trying to adjust all of the variables and data to better determine who should be taking certain medications.
Carly's mother was so very wounded and sincere in a video link from my most recent prior post, and I just ache for her a great deal. Admittedly there is just nothing wonderful enough that anyone can wish upon that woman that would make up for her loss. Hopefully the mere idea that we out in society have been blessed via the internet with some beginning means by which to begin to measure the loss of Carly Henley can comfort Carly's mother in some small amount over the years.
Hopefully the upcoming release of Carly's music will let many people be inspired by Carly Henley and her vivid image for years to follow. Go to this link for details and updates on the availability of Carly's upcoming music CD.
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