What Did Morrissey Say About Depression? (+5 Interesting FAQs)
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The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter. The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.
This article will center around what Morrissey, the singer of Depeche Mode, has said about depression, and even about suicide.
Morrissey talks about depression and suicide
Morrisey, the lead singer of the British band Depeche Mode has been through a long battle with depression. And although this is a known fact, and many of his band’s songs disclaim sadness, he rarely gives interviews.
But in 2015 he gave an interview to Larry King in which he was extremely clear on his battle with depression, and his thoughts of suicide.
In the interview, he said that his battle with depression began at a very young age. He said he started taking his first antidepressant when he was 17 years old, and through this time, he has gone to therapy for some periods.
He also referred to the fact that depression is a chronic matter, and that it is always around him:
“For me, it never gets better,”
“I’ve had it for many years. I refer to it as the ‘black dog’. It doesn’t go away.”
He also said, during the interview, how depression usually manifests itself to him mostly in the morning. He also said that he believes that depression may be related to a form of sensitivity.
“ It’s usually the very first thing when you wake up, there is no cure, and I think it’s part of being a sensitive, open human.”
As he said that in his younger years he used to take medication. In the interview with Lary King, in 2015, he said he wasn’t taking any, and it leaves people to understand that he is learning how to navigate his depression without it.
“I don’t [take medication], I’ve been through everything, it’s pointless. It’s a frame of mind, a state of mind, it’s circumstantial.”
But it is during this interview that he raised some browns when he was talking about suicide. At first, he admitted to having thought of ending his own life, and even though he never tried it, he thinks that is something everyone thinks about. He said:
“It crosses everybody’s mind. Everybody thinks of it; even people who mistakenly assume that they’re happy. They think of just disappearing and having enough and many people do, just taking control and saying, ‘No more, no more of this silliness.”
But it was after this statement that the singer referred to suicide as something “Admirable”. This raised a lot of questions and left a lot of people angry. It was understood that he was saying that suicide is a positive action.
Because of that, many institutions, such as the emotional support charity Samaritan, issued statements talking about how they viewed his speech. They said:
“Every suicide is a tragedy and it is important to remember that every one of the 6,000 people who take their own lives each year in the UK is somebody’s parent, friend, relative or child.”
And they went on:
“Suicide is complex and it’s important to remember that usually there is no single cause. The human cost is enormous, both in terms of the people who are struggling to cope and their friends and family left behind.”
With all this, it may be important to think about the impact of celebrities discussing mental health matters. So let’s talk about that.
What are the impacts of a celebrity discussing their mental health?
A lot can be thought of when someone famous decides to come clean about their struggles with mental illness. The first thing is about how relatable it makes mental illness.
As you see your idol explaining how they have been going through this, and what are ways they have found to handle it, it can give you some sort of hope. Allows you to see someone that is struggling, but is also determined, and is focused on getting better, and living a good life.
This is an extremely powerful image. Aside from that, having a celebrity speak about mental health also helps
And one that should also aspire for some care. When people are depressed they may feel so desperate in their pain that they can become, to a certain point, influenceable. Which gives the celebrity a lot of power over their thoughts and feelings.
When a celebrity says that they have given up their medication, because they have accepted their depressed frame of mind, it can lead to people believing that they should do the same. And that is where the problem lies. Some of the celebrities’ personal choices may impact other people.
And although it is unfair to make them responsible for what others chose in their lives, there should be some care with what is said. The same should be taken into consideration when he speaks about suicide being admirable.
This can lead some people that admire him, and his outlook on life to put suicide as an option or possibility.
Besides that, it can be hurtful to people that have gone through losing someone to suicide. All of this shows the positive, and not-so-positive effects of celebrities publicly discussing their mental health conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Is Morrissey depressed?
What are suicidal thoughts?
Suicidal thoughts, also called suicidal ideation, are thoughts that people have about ending their lives. It can happen in two ways, a more passive, and a more active one. In the first one, the person considers ending their life but they don’t have a concrete plan to do so. It is rather thought about how it would be to end their lives.
The second one, that demands a little more care is an active thought. In that, the person will start to think about how, where, and when they may end their lives. In those cases, in a moment of impulse, the person may act on it.
When the person starts to think about ending their lives, they can start to be more agitated, and irritable. And because of that, they can have trouble sleeping. Aside from that, they may start to say goodbye to their loved ones, and give away their belongings. They may also begin to show curiosity about violent events, death, and even suicide.
How can I help my friend with suicidal thoughts?
The first thing you can do, if you think your friend is having suicidal thoughts is talk about it with them. By having an open and honest conversation you can open a line of communication that will allow them to come clean about how they feel. It will also allow you to show your support, and offer to stand beside them as they get treatment.
All of this will make them feel more connected and cared for. That can be something that may prevent them from future suicide attempts. Another thing you can do, if you realize through the conversation that they are planning to end their lives, is to get in touch with other people in their support network.
You may want to set a schedule to not leave them alone, so they don’t try to do something in a moment of impulse. Aside from that, you can take from the reach things they can use to harm themselves, and get in touch with the professionals that are caring for them. Hopefully with treatment, and your support, they will be better soon.
Is only medication enough to treat depression?
No, medication won’t solely treat depression. It can reset the balance in your brain chemistry. And with that make your symptoms of depression less intense. But you should also become more aware of your emotional patterns and learn how to deal with them better so you can prevent a relapse of depression in the future.
Can I stop my mental health medication from one day to the next?
No, you should never stop taking your medication from one moment to the next. First, it can lead you to experience the symptoms you were having before. And secondly, it can lead to intense symptoms of withdrawal.
So if you feel better, or if you want to stop taking your medication, you should make an appointment with your doctor and discuss it with them. They will give you the proper orientation on how to come out of the medication.
Is it rare for famous people to get depressed?
No, famous people can get depressed the same way as any other person. Even though some may believe they have an easy life, without any conflict, they may also experience sadness, feel overwhelmed, and drained by situations.
Any person is susceptible to developing depression. Famous people may need to constantly prove themselves to others, and can be judged by everyone. Dealing with the pressure to always be available and happy can also weigh on them.
And because of that, caring for your mental health is extremely important if you are famous, or not. So try to keep a healthy lifestyle, take care of your feelings, and learn how to handle your emotions.
What are my treatment options when I am depressed?
When you are depressed, the first thing for you to look for is professional help. Be it therapy, or a psychiatrist. Sometimes a combination of both is necessary. The therapist will help you understand your emotions better. It will help you create strategies to cope with depression, and maybe even help you learn the root of it.
As for the psychiatrist, they will be able to prescribe you medicine when needed. Those will help decrease the intensity of your depressive symptoms and work on the chemical imbalance that may be going on in your brain.
Aside from that, as you are depressed, you may want to make some changes in your lifestyle to help you cope. Exercising is one of the first things mental health professionals will recommend you do. It will improve your energy levels, reduce your stress levels, and help improve your mood.
Aside from that, sleeping and eating well can also have an impact on your levels of energy, and how fatigued you are. Aside from that, spending time with people you love may help you cope with depression.
It is not only about having people to vent with, but you will also be able to take your mind, even if it is just for a while, off those negative thoughts depression brings.
And finally, you should try to do things that give you some positive emotions. It can be doing some volunteer work or going on a hike. Something that will give you a sense of accomplishment.
Conclusion
This article centered around what Morrissey, the frontman of Depeche Mode, has said about depression, and suicide. It discussed how he has dealt with it over time, and how you can handle these situations.
If you have any questions or comments about this article, feel free to write them in the section below.
References
Samaritans criticise Morrissey following singer’s ‘suicide is admirable’ comments
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