Study confirms Irish will not discuss mental health issues with each other

true - they fear the branding by their oppressor who has words to describe the irish inability to hide the PTSD that said beastie visited on them by/and throughout her far flung diaspora and also by her across the pond big mucky muck cousin. Whatever Mother says must be so.

true - they fear the branding by their oppressor who have words to describe the irish inability to hide the PTSD that said beastie visited on them by/and throughout her far flung diaspora and also by her across the pond big mucky muck cousin. Whatever Mother says must be so.

AengusOg, I am sorry that you do not believe that depression exists and/or that is not a clinically recognized illness. If you go to the PDR (Physicians' Desk Reference), you will note that depression is indeed clearly defined. Friends and family are great but unfortunately for those who suffer from clinical depression or manic depression, love and support is a great help but not enough. I've ssen it in my family and yes, in myself as well. And I have lots of 'mates' and loving people around me. For those who need it, a combined regimen of therapy and medication can work wonders; the quality of life being improved to a surprising level. Depression exists and as the article states so well, more than we'd like to know.

When I visited Ireland I openly talked about the family history of mania (no depressive state). Those with people in their immediate family did not known that this was a family trait, and were relieved to find it was. In our case in the US the drinking was a way to moderate the mania (alcohol being a depressive), and even when heavy (not often) the drinking did not produce any notable negative behavior except for financial irresponsibility and, on occasion, a gambling habit (controlled by taking all money and assets into the hands of a spouse or sibling). ... Caesar, in describing the Celtic Gauls, gives a very good picture of mania. Manic depression (bi-polar disorder), depression and mania apparently are of very high incidence among the Irish.

Ireland has a very interesting history with "Mental Illness" and "Emotional Disorders". At one point, Scientists claimed that the incidence of Schizophrenia was 300% of the Continental occurance, in the West. "Melancholia" was noted as a frequent complaint in the 1900s. Families, however, always kept any discussion of a member who was "not right in the head" to a minimum. Appearances have always won out over common sense.

To complete the previous post - Then there would be no need to discuss depression.

What is depression? There is a tremendous variance in commonly used words like 'friend; and 'love', and so too with depression. Now a pharmaceutical company and a MD specializing in depression have weighed in on the deplorable response to the Mental Health Barometer. $$$$$ To paraphrase Crocodile Dundee regarding mental health treatment: 'doesn't she (he) have any mates?' All the drugs and therapy sessions in the world do not work as well as the empathy, not sympathy, of a friend, whether it be in the form of a nod or a needle.

It's the old question, do the Irish drink because they're depressed, or are we depressed because we drink?

Isn't it time that a proper study was done to find the cause of depression and the Irish? We all know like alcoholism depression does affect the Irish in greater numbers than other groups. Whether it's the lack of sunlight, diet, or some genetic aftermath to the post famine generations (like what happened to the Chinese after their famine) it’s time for real answers to be studied and found.