Bart summed it up succinctly!
A reader writes:
... not too long ago another IG person I follow (a former co-worker) posted about attending a concert w/her daughter. Billie Eilesh was [the] singer. I Googled this person, and she too has had issues w/mental illness, admitting to once considering suicide. Again… it’s as if Eilesh revels in this.My point is this: Is the younger population (i.e. those in their 20s, 30s, 40s) in awe of those battling mental illness? Is it me? I’m 69 and this seems to be a strange phenomenon, but maybe I’m the outlier here.
As to that question, I would call it "Dead Poets Society" syndrome. Teens and twenty-somethings are fascinated with death and depression - hence the fascination with horror films and things like being "goth." Their is a weird perverse inverse status with being a "troubled teen." Look out! Here comes the troubled teen! He's an outlaw - a rebel without a cause! Depressed and reading poetry like a beatnik! He's deep, baby!
Why is it that young people, who are always told "this is the happiest part of your life!" are often depressed, or if not, fascinated by depression, death, suicide, and whatnot? In part it is because life in the USA and the West in general is pretty easy, compared to other countries. People who have too much will affect some sort of "problem" in order to justify - in their minds - their well-off situation.
It is no different than the middle-aged person who complains about being "so busy!" and "stressed" at their six-figure job, nice house, and fancy car. Deep down, they don't think they deserve this.
Of course, depression and mental illness tend to manifest themselves in the teens and twenties, because the transition from "kid" to adult is a harrowing one. It is breeding season here for birds, and all the little birdies are laying eggs. Soon, they will hatch and their parents will bring them food and vomit it into their little mouths. The chicks will grow strong and, well, one day they have to leave the nest and do so by doing something they've never done before in their lives - fly. And most do fly, but you do see, occasionally, a baby bird who didn't make it, and fell to their death, only to be eaten up by bugs or raccoons. It is sad, but it happens.
So yea, to a teenager, this is all fascinating and perhaps they glamorize it a bit. Making dramatic suicidal gestures seems to be part and parcel of this - my own Mother tried this at age 14. And again at age 16. And 21. And 45. But let me tell you, there is nothing glamorous about depression, mental illness, or suicide.
It has been that way for generations - the moody, depressed, artist or writer. It is sort of a trope. Sadly, Hollywood kind of hypes this as well, making dramatic moody movies about crazy folks and suicides and depression.
But I think it is also a trap - you don't have to be unhappy to be creative. Hemingway didn't have to suffer "the black dog" and kill himself in order to be an author. Van Gogh could have painted just as well with his ear intact.
Kids love to glamorize this stuff. It isn't until we are older that we realize there is nothing glamorous about it. For some, it is too late at that point.
Just a thought, but maybe the world would be a better place if we didn't glamorize depression, mental illness, and suicide. It isn't "edgy" - it's just stupid!
