Ranting about a co-worker

Leave it to the pros? Like you? I don't know what kind of social worker you were, but I think you need educate or re-educate yourself on the subject of depression. This is a medical condition that affects people with varying degrees of severity, regardless of their station in life. A millionaire with depression suffers it, at least in part, for the same reasons as a homeless person: a chemical imbalance in the brain.

Note that anti-depressants, mood stabilizers, anti-psychotics and the like improve the condition of the mentally ill; give these same medications to a healthy person and they would either have no effect or would make that healthy person 'crazy'. Apparently, you've forgotten that depression is a medical condition. Sometimes, as with thyroid dysfunction, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, Cushing's, Lupus and Alzheimer’s, the medical cause for the depression can be quite clear. Depression also frequently co-occurs with heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. But often, there is no clear cause. That doesn't change how devastating the depression can be for the person suffering with it.

Stating that people who do "[talk] suicide" are "very likely doing the species a favor" if they follow through is the height of irresponsibility for someone with your background. Mentally ill people LISTEN to you- to them, you're one of the experts. If you used to be a social worker, you should realize that statements like the one above could be taken seriously by someone looking for help. I'm shocked. If you still have a license to perform social work, it should be revoked.

You say that you have worked with "people that had some pretty good reasons to kill themselves... But nobody was talking suicide." Do you realize that people who genuinely needed your help would have picked up on your attitude and consequently not asked for what they needed? Did you ever consider that many of those downtrodden people you worked with didn't open up to you because of your attitude? Probably not.

You give the impression that you've left social work. If you have, please, please, please, don't go back. If you haven't left, do. Actually, I don't expect this post to make a difference in your attitude. I wrote it so that those who come here looking for help or answers will know that your callous remarks should be ignored.