Suicide Rate of Fire Fighters Due to Job Related Stress
Running head: SUICIDE RATE OF FIREFIGHTERS DUE TO JOB-RELATED
Suicide Rate of Fire-Fighters due to Job-Related Stress
Brenda Bell-Smith
Barry University
Public Safety
PUB 409
Dr. Smith
Jun 25, 2008
Suicide Rate of Fire-Fighters due to Job-Related Stress
Few individuals realize the gravity of depression in another human’s life. For some, the state of being depressed is a choice, and a person can easily “snap out of it” if only they would think positively and cut all the drama. Depression, however, is a medical condition, an actual disease of the mind that is not easily fixed with mere will power. People sick with flu or colds are not asked to cure themselves, hence, why should depressed individuals bear their sufferings alone and without any care? It is a relief, nonetheless, that depression is not anymore new. Millions of individuals have it and millions are also seeking the necessary treatment and medication to get on with their lives. However, recognizing and acknowledging the problem, as opposed to ignoring it, is the first step towards recovery. From the early philosophers, scholars and scientists’ perspectives, depression is a mystery caused by unknown powers in the universe. Based from early accounts, depressed or melancholic people demonstrate bizarre behaviour, in which nobody could pinpoint the reason behind. Symptoms range from extreme sadness and lack of zeal in life to drastic mood changes. With the gradual development of modern scientific processes and correspondence among experts, specialists were able to define depression, identified its symptoms, and tried to discover its causes and remedies. Frequent experiences with stress and its impact on physical health are not unique. In fact, in a study made by S. Cohen, D. Tyrell and A. Smith (1993) entitled, “Negative life events, perceived stress, negative affect, and susceptibility to the common cold”, they found a strong relationship between stressful life events (for
Suicide Rate of Fire-Fighters due to Job-Related Stress
Brenda Bell-Smith
Barry University
Public Safety
PUB 409
Dr. Smith
Jun 25, 2008
Suicide Rate of Fire-Fighters due to Job-Related Stress
Few individuals realize the gravity of depression in another human’s life. For some, the state of being depressed is a choice, and a person can easily “snap out of it” if only they would think positively and cut all the drama. Depression, however, is a medical condition, an actual disease of the mind that is not easily fixed with mere will power. People sick with flu or colds are not asked to cure themselves, hence, why should depressed individuals bear their sufferings alone and without any care? It is a relief, nonetheless, that depression is not anymore new. Millions of individuals have it and millions are also seeking the necessary treatment and medication to get on with their lives. However, recognizing and acknowledging the problem, as opposed to ignoring it, is the first step towards recovery. From the early philosophers, scholars and scientists’ perspectives, depression is a mystery caused by unknown powers in the universe. Based from early accounts, depressed or melancholic people demonstrate bizarre behaviour, in which nobody could pinpoint the reason behind. Symptoms range from extreme sadness and lack of zeal in life to drastic mood changes. With the gradual development of modern scientific processes and correspondence among experts, specialists were able to define depression, identified its symptoms, and tried to discover its causes and remedies. Frequent experiences with stress and its impact on physical health are not unique. In fact, in a study made by S. Cohen, D. Tyrell and A. Smith (1993) entitled, “Negative life events, perceived stress, negative affect, and susceptibility to the common cold”, they found a strong relationship between stressful life events (for
References: Bankers Online. Specific Ways to Cope with Stress. Retrieved June 25, 2008 from the http://www.bankersonline.com/ tools/cope.html Beck Cohen, S., Tyrell, D. A. J., & Smith, A. P. (1993). Negative life events, perceived stress, negative affect, and susceptibility to the common cold. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 64 , 131–140. Honolulu Community College. 101 Ways to Cope with Stress. Retrieved June 25, 2008 from the http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/ FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/101ways.htm Hopkins, J Retrieved June 25, 2008 from the http://www.suicidereferencelibrary.com/test4~id~1731.php Kenyon, P. (2006, March 2). PSY221: Depression and Learned Helplessness. Retrieved June 25, 2008 from http://salmon.psy.plym.ac.uk/year2/ psy221depression/psy221depression_frames_container.htm Lieberman, S.S 1174_managing_stresszSz11174_02zPzhtm Schwarzer, R. and Schulz, R. (2001). The Role of Stressful Life Events. Freie Universtat Berlin. Retrieved June 25, 2008 from the http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~health/materials/lifeevents.pdf University Health Center. Healthful Ways to Cope with Stress. Retrieved June 25, 2008 from the http://health.uark.edu/ CAPS/stress_mgmt.shtml