OT Anthony Bourdain dead

[intlzncster]

tl;dr Capitalism

Too simple. jmo though.

 

[huskymedic]

Anthony Bourdain's 23 Essential Quotes on Food, Traveling, and Life

Among them:

1. "To me, life without veal stock, pork fat, sausage, organ meat, demi-glace, or even stinky cheese is a life not worth living."

5. "Skills can be taught. Character you either have or you don't have."

21. "I'm a big believer in winging it. I'm a big believer that you're never going to find perfect city travel experience or the perfect meal without a constant willingness to experience a bad one. Letting the happy accident happen is what a lot of vacation itineraries miss, I think, and I'm always trying to push people to allow those things to happen rather than stick to some rigid itinerary."

 

[intlzncster]

And I will add that our society evolves and not always in a direction consistent with achieving inner-peace. I think America has long been between a rock and a hard place. We look at the lifestyle that those who live on the Mediterranean live and we want that for ourselves. Who wouldn't want a low stress, laid back, lifestyle??? But their economies struggle because they don't, in general, "work hard enough". Then we look toward Asia and see threats to our own economy because, relative to them, we don't "work hard enough". Hard work and enjoying the fruits of our labor is in the DNA of Americans so we are self-programmed to want to compete with the Asians. We don't want to be "out-worked" by anyone. In a way, our society itself is bi-polar. It is easy to always be doubting yourself and your choices when you want two opposing things at the same time. You constantly feel torn. Now, consider that over the last 20-30 years, the percentage of the American population that is Asian-American has been growing rapidly. Initially, they came here as international students. Some undergrad, some grad. Many of them brought with them that fierce competitiveness of their culture. Why their culture is that way is another question for another day but I believe much of it has been driven by decades of scarcity. Next, consider that most of these immigrants were the very top of their country in terms of socio-economics and intellect. I am talking the top fraction of a percent. Maybe hundredths of a percent. So, in terms of profession and education, they end up mingling with the best of the best of our country. Again, these are the people that think, A LOT. They fear not being competitive so they raise their efforts. They sacrifice more of the little things to better compete for the big things. But those little things provide the variety that is the spice of life. Has anyone looked at the insanity that is the spelling bee lately? Think what you want but two of the recent winners actually went to grammar school with my kids. I can tell you that these kids sacrifice A LOT of their childhood to bring status and recognition to their families. Kids that age don't naturally get geeked up about spelling, no matter how nerdy they are. This is coming from their hyper-competitive parents. Then the mentality leaks into high school. Have you seen the courses some of these high schools offer now?!?!?! There are kids that have taken Vector Calculus, Linear Algebra and Differential Equations by the end of their junior year. This push for more and more and more comes from that hyper-competitive mentality. If one kid takes Calc 2 then I want my kid to take Vector Calculus so he has a better chance to get into Harvard. Then it becomes Linear Algebra. Then Differential Equations. More and more and more. But at what cost? These kids barely sleep and barely have down time for those little things. And it is no less insane with extracurriculars and community service. Kids are pushed to play more and more sports. They are pushed to be better and better by playing and/or going to camps in the summer. And community service? Now it has to be hundreds of hours and often away from home in third world countries because the key is to be "distinguished" in some way. And if it isn't community service, these kids are pushed to do "research" over the summer and often away from home. It is common now for kids to skip lunch to take an extra AP class so they can have a higher class rank. Could we do any more to raise exhausted and stressed out kids?!?!? Is it really any surprise that the number of kids in therapy at top colleges is rising rapidly? How could it not! Cornell had to put nets under their foot bridges because kids jumping became an issue. I know of at least two kids there that were told they were a disappointment because they only got into Cornell. Think about all of this for a second.

So we have a push to want more because we don't want to be seen as lazy or less. On top of that we are losing our spiritual compass and that is leading to attachment and living in anything but the present. Simpler times were called that for a reason. The less simple life becomes, the more people that get pushed to the breaking point.

Interestingly enough, some of the least working hour countries have strong economies (Germany/Norway), and countries like Greece and Mexico are among the longest hours worked. At odds with peoples' perception of Greece.

 

[intlzncster]

It can also be difficult to find a quality psychiatrist who accepts insurance.

And nowadays, they rarely offer counseling anyway. It's a 10-15 minute visit, make sure your meds are working and then on to the next person, assembly line style. Might not even meet with an MD. Nurse Practicioners are in this roll now too.

 

[Mokum]

As with anything else, I think this is a complex issue with many facets. First, I wouldn't discount the void left behind by spirituality. Most people are not very spiritual any more, even if they believe in a higher power. I had a mentor for years who passed away from pancreatic cancer. He was brilliant but tortured. Common story, no? He finally found peace when he began to study all of the world's religions. He chose to call them wisdom traditions. He was raised Jewish but studied everything. He began to see the common threads or the true nuggets of wisdom. Those are what got him through and to the other side. Those are what brought him peace. He was not a scientist but I am and when he began to share those nuggets with me, I could see the possibilities of how they also could be consistent with science. The problem is, when you are no longer immersed in that environment or no longer have people you regularly talk to about these things, they can fade into the background of your mind. Then you start living in the past or the future again. You lose self awareness and lose focus on the present. And when you live in the past or the future you are so much more likely to suffer. It is unlikely that any of us are bio-chemically perfect and/or that we have been fortunate enough to have not had a psychologically traumatic event in our lives. Those things often lead to attachment of some form. And then you either fear losing that which you are attached to or become depressed over something you already lost. It becomes brutal when those attachments are people. Loss can take on many forms with people. It can be the worst form in terms of death or can simply be separation. Now, if you are brilliant, you also probably think, A LOT. If those thoughts are in the past or the future, you torture yourself, A LOT. Then you become mentally exhausted. Eventually, you reach a breaking point and death seems like the best path to peace. That is all people really want, deep down. Peace.

There also seems to be a connection with anti-depressants. It seems they often make matters worse. It depends on the person. We have a long way to go here, as several have mentioned.

And I will add that our society evolves and not always in a direction consistent with achieving inner-peace. I think America has long been between a rock and a hard place. We look at the lifestyle that those who live on the Mediterranean live and we want that for ourselves. Who wouldn't want a low stress, laid back, lifestyle??? But their economies struggle because they don't, in general, "work hard enough". Then we look toward Asia and see threats to our own economy because, relative to them, we don't "work hard enough". Hard work and enjoying the fruits of our labor is in the DNA of Americans so we are self-programmed to want to compete with the Asians. We don't want to be "out-worked" by anyone. In a way, our society itself is bi-polar. It is easy to always be doubting yourself and your choices when you want two opposing things at the same time. You constantly feel torn. Now, consider that over the last 20-30 years, the percentage of the American population that is Asian-American has been growing rapidly. Initially, they came here as international students. Some undergrad, some grad. Many of them brought with them that fierce competitiveness of their culture. Why their culture is that way is another question for another day but I believe much of it has been driven by decades of scarcity. Next, consider that most of these immigrants were the very top of their country in terms of socio-economics and intellect. I am talking the top fraction of a percent. Maybe hundredths of a percent. So, in terms of profession and education, they end up mingling with the best of the best of our country. Again, these are the people that think, A LOT. They fear not being competitive so they raise their efforts. They sacrifice more of the little things to better compete for the big things. But those little things provide the variety that is the spice of life. Has anyone looked at the insanity that is the spelling bee lately? Think what you want but two of the recent winners actually went to grammar school with my kids. I can tell you that these kids sacrifice A LOT of their childhood to bring status and recognition to their families. Kids that age don't naturally get geeked up about spelling, no matter how nerdy they are. This is coming from their hyper-competitive parents. Then the mentality leaks into high school. Have you seen the courses some of these high schools offer now?!?!?! There are kids that have taken Vector Calculus, Linear Algebra and Differential Equations by the end of their junior year. This push for more and more and more comes from that hyper-competitive mentality. If one kid takes Calc 2 then I want my kid to take Vector Calculus so he has a better chance to get into Harvard. Then it becomes Linear Algebra. Then Differential Equations. More and more and more. But at what cost? These kids barely sleep and barely have down time for those little things. And it is no less insane with extracurriculars and community service. Kids are pushed to play more and more sports. They are pushed to be better and better by playing and/or going to camps in the summer. And community service? Now it has to be hundreds of hours and often away from home in third world countries because the key is to be "distinguished" in some way. And if it isn't community service, these kids are pushed to do "research" over the summer and often away from home. It is common now for kids to skip lunch to take an extra AP class so they can have a higher class rank. Could we do any more to raise exhausted and stressed out kids?!?!? Is it really any surprise that the number of kids in therapy at top colleges is rising rapidly? How could it not! Cornell had to put nets under their foot bridges because kids jumping became an issue. I know of at least two kids there that were told they were a disappointment because they only got into Cornell. Think about all of this for a second.

So we have a push to want more because we don't want to be seen as lazy or less. On top of that we are losing our spiritual compass and that is leading to attachment and living in anything but the present. Simpler times were called that for a reason. The less simple life becomes, the more people that get pushed to the breaking point.

You hit the nail on the head. Spirituality is missing. Materialism is king.

 

[Mokum]

Interestingly enough, some of the least working hour countries have strong economies (Germany/Norway), and countries like Greece and Mexico are among the longest hours worked. At odds with peoples' perception of Greece.

Corruption is why their economies struggle. Not lack of work ethic.

 

[shizzle787]

Interestingly enough, some of the least working hour countries have strong economies (Germany/Norway), and countries like Greece and Mexico are among the longest hours worked. At odds with peoples' perception of Greece.

Greeks retire at like 50.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Greeks retire at like 50.

Sure, if facts supported such an outdated albeit inaccurate proclamation. Ironically, Greece's current retirement age (67 now; 67+ graduated increase until 2021) is higher than Germany's retirement ages: general (now 65 & 7 months) and public officials (63). Aside from Greece raising its' traditional non-sustainable early retirement ages, Athens has attacked many traditional workarounds to access public retirement benefits earlier than in many EU nations. As Mokum suggests, continued sources of other corruption are Greece's biggest ongoing obstacle; not mistaken perceptions of factual retirement age today.

 

[8893]

Helpful piece from today's NYT for those who have a loved one dealing with depression:

What to Do When a Loved One Is Severely Depressed

 

[Adios]

Sure, if facts supported such an outdated albeit inaccurate proclamation. Ironically, Greece's current retirement age (67 now; 67+ graduated increase until 2021) is higher than Germany's retirement ages: general (now 65 & 7 months) and public officials (63). Aside from Greece raising its' traditional non-sustainable early retirement ages, Athens has attacked many traditional workarounds to access public retirement benefits earlier than in many EU nations. As Mokum suggests, continued sources of other corruption are Greece's biggest ongoing obstacle; not mistaken perceptions of factual retirement age today.

You just reminded me of Michael Jordan's reply to being asked at his camp about LaVar Ball.

 

[intlzncster]

Corruption is why their economies struggle. Not lack of work ethic.

That goes for most of Latin America. Conversely, Chile has turned into a model economically speaking at the moment.

 

[Mokum]

That goes for most of Latin America. Conversely, Chile has turned into a model economically speaking at the moment.

I was just down in Greece working. People are poor thanks to bankers, and government. They work hard there, and get little return. There are hustlers all over in Athens trying to sell you the same cheap souvenirs and crap, that's all they can do.

 

[Mokum]

Greeks retire at like 50.

Nonsense. I was just there, working. Plenty of people over 50 working their butts off.

 

[Jaker]

CNN must be really bumm,ed because his show was the only good one they have, the rest of their programming is garbage.

 

[DogMania]

I don't think it's a switch at all. It's something going on inside of people all the time. But we learn to hide it. We learn not to talk about it, because you're not supposed to talk about it. Because people tell you to cheer up, to be happy for yourself, to count your blessings.

So quietly, you suffer, and you go on, every day, because you're supposed to be happy, and you're supposed to feel satisfied, and all this success is supposed to mean something, but you just feel empty and worthless inside, and you know you don't deserve it.

Depression doesn't care if you're rich or handsome or powerful or popular or surrounded by people who worship you. Why would you think it does? Does diabetes care if you're rich? Does cancer care if you have a TV show or a bestselling book?

We still don't take it seriously as a disease. We say, "How can someone with such a life be depressed," because we still think, well, they should just *choose* to be happy. As if people wouldn't choose that option if they could.

All you can do is just try to manage it. And sometimes, you lose that battle. Sometimes, the depression just wears you down, and you're so tired of feeling so sh!tty, of feeling like nothing matters, of feeling like you're worthless and unworthy of love, that you'd rather just not be alive anymore.

But please don't view it as a reflection of who these people are. It's not. It's the disease.

Get help if you can. Go to therapy. Get treatment. It can help. It's helped me.

But it doesn't help everyone. And we need to look at it honestly as a disease.

Well put. Some people just struggle with feeling depressed and just can't shake it. Many who struggle with substance abuse try to do anything so that they don't feel this horrible feeling that they just can't seem to shake. For some their depression doesn't seem to align with their life's circumstances. I have a friend who seems to have everything a guy would want, but he just struggles all the time with this.

I'm actually going through a really difficult time right now, I don't want to get into it, but it is a very real situation I'm in, and I'm often struggling where there just isn't an immediate option that will make me happy and take away some of the deep dark feelings that I'm wrestling with at the moment. I've never had a problem with substance abuse or drinking, but I completely understand now why some people go down that route, and even suicide, because they'll do anything that will take away the deep feelings of desperation.

Now I happen to be a person who has strong faith in God who believes that He works all things out for his glory and our good even though I don't always feel that way or understand why things happen the way they do. Frankly, I don't know how people get through really difficult situations without faith, since so much in life is out of our control. You can have all the money in the world but it can't take away a deadly disease, bring back the death of a loved one, make someone love you, rid oneself of clinical depression, etc.

It's extremely sad and heartbreaking when someone gets to the point where they feel the only way out is to take their own life. It is a very selfish and desperate act that leaves those around them in a lot of pain. It's very sad when those who take their own life failed seek out help, which is often readily available. Though there are some that have explored many options for their depression and nothing seem to work.

For me, and again I know not everyone believes how I do, there is something very powerful about having a God that loves us just as we are, even with all our flaws and brokenness. That there's no circumstance or bad decision that can ever separate us from his love. I think everyone wants to feel valued and loved. Those who take their lives, feel they are worthless. Many, not saying all, have had some significant abuse in their life at some point in time that they've never been able to come to grips with. They often believe the lies that were forced on them by those who abused them or wounded them deeply.

Fortunately, I've met many who have overcome a lot of darkness in their life by embracing the faith that I'm talking about, and are living amazing lives now.

I'm sure there are many who are reading this thread and feel a lot of desperation about their lives. I encourage anyone who feels that way, go and talk to someone that they know who has a lot of faith in God and has overcome some big challenges in their lives. You might just find the freedom from what you've been wrestling with for a very long time.

Anyhow, I completely empathize with those who are struggling with depression, may it be the result of some really difficult circumstances, or just something they struggle with. I just hope that those who do, seek out some sort of help. If anyone is interested in a faith-based program, there's one call Celebrate Recovery. You can look it up on the internet and probably find some locations that have the program, but you're welcome to send me a private IM and I'd be glad to tell you about the program and point you in the right direction.

 

[A10 fan]

I wonder how his physical health was. Many times, these people don't have a psychological problem, they've been diagnosed with a devastating disease, and just don't want to deal with either a great deal of pain, or a gradual loss of their capabilities. This is apparently what happened with Robin Williams. Being told you have cancer, Aids, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, etc., can be more than some people are willing to deal with. It wouldn't shock me at all if Bourdain was dealing with some sort of illness.

 

[Paesano]

I wish you all peace.

 

[jibsey]

I wonder how his physical health was. Many times, these people don't have a psychological problem, they've been diagnosed with a devastating disease, and just don't want to deal with either a great deal of pain, or a gradual loss of their capabilities. This is apparently what happened with Robin Williams. Being told you have cancer, Aids, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, etc., can be more than some people are willing to deal with. It wouldn't shock me at all if Bourdain was dealing with some sort of illness.

This is a good point. Depression plus a hopeless diagnosis can easily push someone over the edge.

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

It's extremely sad and heartbreaking when someone gets to the point where they feel the only way out is to take their own life. It is a very selfish and desperate act that leaves those around them in a lot of pain. It's very sad when those who take their own life failed seek out help, which is often readily available. Though there are some that have explored many options for their depression and nothing seem to work.

I think you made some great points, but you really undo it here by calling them selfish. Is it selfish to die of cancer? Is it selfish to die of diabetes?

If depression is a real disease, then suicide is a result of the disease. It's not a rational decision-making process. It's not made by someone who knows what they're doing. It's part of the disease.

I wish people would stop calling suicide selfish. You aren't helping. Making depressed people feel worse is not the move. Making the survivors of a suicide feel like the person who died was selfish is definitely not helping them grieve.

Suicide is an act of desperation from someone seeking relief from pain, done under the duress of a disease. Like a body breaking down after chemotherapy.

It's not their fault.

 

[intlzncster]

If depression is a real disease, then suicide is a result of the disease. It's not a rational decision-making process. It's not made by someone who knows what they're doing. It's part of the disease.

I wish people would stop calling suicide selfish. You aren't helping. Making depressed people feel worse is not the move. Making the survivors of a suicide feel like the person who died was selfish is definitely not helping them grieve.

Suicide is an act of desperation from someone seeking relief from pain, done under the duress of a disease. Like a body breaking down after chemotherapy.

It's not their fault.

I get in this argument with people on this subject. On the one hand, I understand their point of view, because it's their hard emotional empathic reaction to the devastating consequences of the deceased person's actions. But I remind them they are thinking rationally about the situation.

It's important to realize people who commit suicide due to depression have brains which are functioning suboptimally. There are significant areas of the brain functioning at lower levels than normal or even not at all. Physically, it's akin to a hard drive with a number of damaged sectors; eventually, it craps out.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

That goes for most of Latin America. Conversely, Chile has turned into a model economically speaking at the moment.

Chile's strong agricultural base and widely diverse natural resources are big differentiators, yet one of the few positives dating to Pinochet's dictatorship was the nation's innovative tri-pillar, privatized pension reform. Tweaked through the years and ideally undergoing additional refinement to increase distributions soon, Chile's pension system continues to serve as a base or model for many other nations (developed and emerging alike).

 

[intlzncster]

Chile's strong agricultural base and widely diverse natural resources are big differentiators, yet one of the few positives dating to Pinochet's dictatorship was the nation's innovative tri-pillar, privatized pension reform. Tweaked through the years and ideally undergoing additional refinement to increase distributions soon, Chile's pension system continues to serve as a base or model for many other nations (developed and emerging alike).

It's not just that though, it's a very business friendly regulatory environment. If you're a tech startup or the like, it's a great place to move to run your business. For a while, they were offering monetary bonuses to do so (not sure if that's still the case). Low levels of corruption in the government as well.

In contrast, Brazil has one of the best natural resource setups in the world but is a complete clusterf#$k. So much corruption it's absurd.

 

[A10 fan]

It's not just that though, it's a very business friendly regulatory environment. If you're a tech startup or the like, it's a great place to move to run your business. For a while, they were offering monetary bonuses to do so (not sure if that's still the case). Low levels of corruption in the government as well.

In contrast, Brazil has one of the best natural resource setups in the world but is a complete clusterf#$k. So much corruption it's absurd.

Corruption is an absolute killer for a country. Argentina, which should be a First World country, is badly held back by it's corruption. On the other hand, in Africa, which is burdened by corrupt governments, little Botswana has controlled corruption, which along with stable government, has allowed it to greatly outperform the other Sub-Saharan African countries. If Nigeria was as well run as Botswana, it would become a fairly prosperous country.

 

[August_West]

Corruption is an absolute killer for a country. Argentina, which should be a First World country, is badly held back by it's corruption. On the other hand, in Africa, which is burdened by corrupt governments, little Botswana has controlled corruption, which along with stable government, has allowed it to greatly outperform the other Sub-Saharan African countries. If Nigeria was as well run as Botswana, it would become a fairly prosperous country.

So other words the US is screwed now.

 

[David 76]

Well put. Some people just struggle with feeling depressed and just can't shake it. Many who struggle with substance abuse try to do anything so that they don't feel this horrible feeling that they just can't seem to shake. For some their depression doesn't seem to align with their life's circumstances. I have a friend who seems to have everything a guy would want, but he just struggles all the time with this.

I'm actually going through a really difficult time right now, I don't want to get into it, but it is a very real situation I'm in, and I'm often struggling where there just isn't an immediate option that will make me happy and take away some of the deep dark feelings that I'm wrestling with at the moment. I've never had a problem with substance abuse or drinking, but I completely understand now why some people go down that route, and even suicide, because they'll do anything that will take away the deep feelings of desperation.

Now I happen to be a person who has strong faith in God who believes that He works all things out for his glory and our good even though I don't always feel that way or understand why things happen the way they do. Frankly, I don't know how people get through really difficult situations without faith, since so much in life is out of our control. You can have all the money in the world but it can't take away a deadly disease, bring back the death of a loved one, make someone love you, rid oneself of clinical depression, etc.

All the best with whatever you are going through.

 

[DogMania]

Thanks, Dave.

 

[DogMania]

I think you made some great points, but you really undo it here by calling them selfish. Is it selfish to die of cancer? Is it selfish to die of diabetes?

If depression is a real disease, then suicide is a result of the disease. It's not a rational decision-making process. It's not made by someone who knows what they're doing. It's part of the disease.

I wish people would stop calling suicide selfish. You aren't helping. Making depressed people feel worse is not the move. Making the survivors of a suicide feel like the person who died was selfish is definitely not helping them grieve.

Suicide is an act of desperation from someone seeking relief from pain, done under the duress of a disease. Like a body breaking down after chemotherapy.

It's not their fault.

You have a good point, IL. Sorry if I offended anyone with that. I have someone who is very close to me who had a family member commit suicide which impacted them very deeply. I believe they felt that way about that family member, but in hindsight I should not have written that. It was insensitive.

 

[temery]

If a terminally ill person opts to end his suffering rather than endure unimaginable pain, most people would understand.

Depression is every bit as bad for many. One day at a time.

I think you made some great points, but you really undo it here by calling them selfish. Is it selfish to die of cancer? Is it selfish to die of diabetes?

If depression is a real disease, then suicide is a result of the disease. It's not a rational decision-making process. It's not made by someone who knows what they're doing. It's part of the disease.

I wish people would stop calling suicide selfish. You aren't helping. Making depressed people feel worse is not the move. Making the survivors of a suicide feel like the person who died was selfish is definitely not helping them grieve.

Suicide is an act of desperation from someone seeking relief from pain, done under the duress of a disease. Like a body breaking down after chemotherapy.

It's not their fault.

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

You have a good point, IL. Sorry if I offended anyone with that. I have someone who is very close to me who had a family member commit suicide which impacted them very deeply. I believe they felt that way about that family member, but in hindsight I should not have written that. It was insensitive.

It's okay. I didn't mean to attack anyone, either. It's just something I've struggled with for a long time. I work so hard on myself, on trying to be a better version of myself, and sometimes it feels so pointless and I get so frustrated and yeah.

But it's okay. I know people's hearts are in the right place. They're just very hurt, and it's one of those things that is almost impossible to understand if you haven't experienced it, like the compulsion of addiction.

 

[Hoophound]

I don't think it's a switch at all. It's something going on inside of people all the time. But we learn to hide it. We learn not to talk about it, because you're not supposed to talk about it. Because people tell you to cheer up, to be happy for yourself, to count your blessings.

So quietly, you suffer, and you go on, every day, because you're supposed to be happy, and you're supposed to feel satisfied, and all this success is supposed to mean something, but you just feel empty and worthless inside, and you know you don't deserve it.

Depression doesn't care if you're rich or handsome or powerful or popular or surrounded by people who worship you. Why would you think it does? Does diabetes care if you're rich? Does cancer care if you have a TV show or a bestselling book?

We still don't take it seriously as a disease. We say, "How can someone with such a life be depressed," because we still think, well, they should just *choose* to be happy. As if people wouldn't choose that option if they could.

All you can do is just try to manage it. And sometimes, you lose that battle. Sometimes, the depression just wears you down, and you're so tired of feeling so sh!tty, of feeling like nothing matters, of feeling like you're worthless and unworthy of love, that you'd rather just not be alive anymore.

But please don't view it as a reflection of who these people are. It's not. It's the disease.

Get help if you can. Go to therapy. Get treatment. It can help. It's helped me.

But it doesn't help everyone. And we need to look at it honestly as a disease.

Not really sure if you are arguing my point/question or not. Regardless, suicide rates are rising very quickly. Some have stated medications have improved. My question is, why is the rate going up? Are medications less valuable than thought? Are environmental factors causing it? No matter the plight of those that are suicidal, why is the rate of actual suicide going through the roof?

To summarize, I understand why people feel hopeless—-I truly do. I’m about as liberally thinking and empathetic a guy as you’ll find, but I’m concerned we are missing something here. Drugs are a likely culprit as are garbage food additives and fillers that are nothing more than industrial chemicals.