Why is it that intelligent people are so much more likely commit suicide? (suspect, how much)

[MrSykes]

"For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow."

Eccl 1:18

[Mr. Joshua]

Originally Posted by Lycanmaster

ovcatto said: "Ignorance is bliss"
+10.
Truer words have never been spoken.

Whoa! looks like Blue states are the most ignorant and blissful states in the Union:
Wyoming -- 116 -- 22.6 per 100,000 population
Montana -- 189 -- 20
Alaska -- 135 -- 19.9
Nevada -- 486 -- 19.5
New Mexico -- 352 -- 18.1
Arizona -- 979 -- 15.9
S. Dakota -- 125 -- 15.9
Oregon -- 579 -- 15.7
Colorado -- 730 -- 15.3
Idaho -- 222 -- 15.2
Oklahoma -- 537 --15
West Virginia -- 269 -- 14.9
Kentucky -- 622 -- 14.8
Tennessee -- 874 -- 14.4
N. Dakota -- 90 -- 14.1
Utah -- 362 -- 14
Kansas -- 379 -- 13.8
Missouri -- 799 -- 13.7
Florida -- 2,440 -- 13.5
Arkansas -- 376 -- 13.4
Indiana -- 824 -- 13.1
Vermont -- 81 -- 13.1
Washington state -- 809 -- 12.7
Alabama -- 580 -- 12.6
N. Carolina -- 1,106 -- 12.5
S. Carolina -- 524 -- 12.1
Maine -- 158 -- 12
Wisconsin -- 670 -- 12
Louisiana -- 492 -- 11.6
Ohio -- 1,325 -- 11.6
Nebraska -- 202 -- 11.5
New Hampshire -- 151 -- 11.5
Virginia -- 876 -- 11.5
Michigan -- 1,139 -- 11.3
Pennsylvania -- 1,396 -- 11.3
Iowa -- 334 -- 11.2
Mississippi -- 325 -- 11.2
Minnesota -- 554 -- 10.8
Delaware -- 91 -- 10.7
Texas -- 2,347 -- 10
Georgia -- 923 -- 9.9
Hawaii -- 120 -- 9.4
California -- 3,334 -- 9.2
Maryland -- 495 -- 8.8
Rhode Island -- 90 -- 8.5
Connecticut -- 292 -- 8.4
Illinois -- 1,010 -- 7.9
Mass. -- 450 -- 7
New York -- 1,326 -- 6.9
New Jersey -- 585 -- 6.8
D.C. -- 30 -- 5.1

BTW: these numbers pretty much refute every explanation put forth so far on this thread. Especially the religious crap!

[cyrano]

This article may be behind a registration wall, I don't know. It's pretty wide-ranging, manages to touch a lot of bases and, like joe Stack's last post, may have something in there for everyone to identify with, get mad at, or both. Aside from having the, idiotically, still-inflammatory word "evolutionary" in it, it discusses the possibility that depression may have an evolutionary purpose. The takeaway I have from the article (aside from the fact that it's written by Jonah Lehrer, whose books, esp. "Proust was a Neuroscientist," I really like) is that there's such a wide range of what's covered under "depression" that what makes perfect sense in some cases (the simplified theory of depression as an evolutionary strategy is that when you're in a really difficult situation, it's worthwhile to give it your deepest thought), but in others, like the rarer cases of multi-year depression that seems to have no root cause, there's more like some sort of biochemical aspect to it. There's also an extended discussion on rumination as a source of depression...and it's much more than just OCD. It's part and parcel of the depression process.

I take comfort in being in good company as a depressive-- Churchill, Lincoln, and Newton, just off the top of my head.

[Time and Space]

Without reading any of the other responses yet, as to not effect my initial thoughts...here's why I think 'intelligent' people are more likely to commit suicide...

I think it's cause intelligent people tend to contimplate more, think to much, think themselves into scenerios and situations that haven't even occured yet....



It's the fact that their brains are constantly in motion that brings about hysteria and panic where there should really be none...

Intelligent people tend to think at hyper speed...often seeing or visioning more than their able to accomplish or get done.

Kinda like when you feel or think you know the answer to everything, but no one wants to hear it...
It builds tension inside...and sometimes hopelessness...

And often intelligent people isolate themselves by their methods of thought...and so often intelligent people feel very lonely...and are alone...

A canary bird, can stay in the cage, because it doesn't think maybe it doesn't belong in that cage, but if that canary or goldfish suddenly had human like thoughts, they would probably go insane....

And thus it is with an intelligent person, they're able to see the cage their in, where as others are not...

[Thomas88]

@tongpa-nyi

It's great to see someone recognize the evolutionary aspect of intelligence. The fact that there are more people of or near "average" intelligence is a product of the bell curve but also a perfect example of evolution. If passing on your genes were easier with a higher intellect, people would naturally be more intelligent. At this point, the current average intelligence is ideal. The natural occurrence of a small percentage of highly intelligent people is just enough to still help the human race/society with innovation and invention but the people of lower intellect than these are likely to be more successful from an evolutionary standpoint.

[Time and Space]

I don't think intelligence, in this age, has much to do with success...

Give a dummy or let one inherit 500 million dollors, and even the dummy will seem 'intelligent'...

[TKramar]

There's probably a reasonable and logical explanation for it. Perhaps they want to do the honorable thing.

As far as being depressed, if you can look at the world, and NOT be depressed, there might be something wrong with you, or you may not be too bright.

Or you may have discovered the miracle of apathy, and just not care.

[ergohead]

Originally Posted by aceplace

No, the more intelligent, analytical and introspective you are, the better you understand the reality of the world, and how to live in it to your best advantage.

If you fail in life, it's because you have an abberation, a loss of intelligence, that prevents you from seeing the bigger picture.

Some religious people see the "bigger picture" as paradies.

Me?

Well, I first heard this song on an LSD trip.

I think some people go though life without ever experiencing bliss.

I like this song, because, like, I was THERE.

Sometimes, I retreat back, THERE.

"Better off than dead."

Mmmmm!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xcwt9mSbYE

[ChiFlo]

Originally Posted by Redshadowz

Why is it that these smart people tend to be so sad? Shouldn't stupid/poor people be far more depressed?

[URL="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article996719.ece"]Only the bright commit suicide - Times Online[/URL]

Argh! Your comment is so ignornant! Of course you didn't even think of the fact that intelligent people can also be poor. Being smart but poor is extremely frustrating.

[waterboy7375]

Could be thaT they dont live up to their own expectations.