DU mental health pros question for you re: Pope/Schiavo

How does a 2 week plus death watch, first for Schiavo now for the Pope affect our (America's) collective psyche? For the last two weeks we have just been waiting for people to die. . .this can't be good.

As with most things, people can address it well or badly. For example, in the Schiavo case, I think most mentally healthy people responded by talking to their friends and family about their own wishes if they are ever in a similar physical condition. I know that's whay my family did.

For mentally immature or unhealthy people, well, if it wasn't this there'd be some other type of news story to set them off.

Collectively I wouldn't worry about it except that I don't trust the msm to cover any story with the thoroughness and thoughtfulness it deserves. I think most Americans probably didn't react to either story one way or the other. It's the media who wants us to believe everyone is affected.

Waiting for someone I have no connection with die is much less depressing than hearing the real news from Iraq, or about the state of our elections, or the state of the dollar, health care, social security, the environment, etc.

The MSM has done a good job of filtering out any seriously tragic news that actually affects us.

much of the media attention would seem to indicate the culture does not have a healthy attitude towards death, there has, on the other hand, been some useful discussions on the subject. Perhaps it is better than simply ignoring death altogether -- as the administration does in the land we call Iraq.

illustrate any skills in resolving conflict peaceably, already a big problem for Americans. The pope reignites ambivalent feelings about the death of a strict authority figure, i.e. father.

every day waiting for someone to die. We spent three weeks waiting for my grandfather to die...Someone right now is waiting for a loved one to die. I think we are programmed to deal with it for the most part. :hi:

in the past.

However, I think what has happened in the last two weeks and ongoing with the pope is a community issue, large numbers of people dealing with death due to non stop media coverage. Eventually, it brings to the forefront our own mortality.

It can be either, helpful or harmful. If we have not learned to accept loss, some may become depressed. Certainly these difficult deaths we are witnessing will trigger other losses we have experienced and there will be periods of sadness.

Also may give us a glimpse of our own mental health; stay glued to the television or turn it off and do something fun.

themselves peacefully in similar situations. All may not agree, but they sort out the chain of authority and acquiese.

This case was a blatant double constitution destroying act to destroy the judicial process by half of the disruptors and a statement for abortion for the other half of the disruptors. The combination managed to disrupt the country.

But good things came of it. We have proof positive of the agenda to destroy the system and the excesses that people go to impose their narrow religious ideology on others. Many eyes were opened and some people woke up.

A short term benefit COULD come of it if TV networks and radio stations interrupted their programs to report the threats to judges and family AS BREAKING NEWS. Fox should add a helicopter. The profile of the person making the threat should be repeated as frequently as all the other news is broadcast.

in one case, there is denial and ignorance.
In the other, grace, acceptance and the wisdom to know the time has come.