Conference quark::human_relations-v1

Bob,

I haven't heard of other suicides within my Digital community. I do know
of a suicide in another company that was directly related to a layoff. I
think that we are in a very difficult time within America. In addition,
I've heard that suicides have a tendancy to run in groups. For instance,
once one highschool student commits/atempts suicide, the school will make
great efforts to prevent others. Perhaps this is what Dallas is experiencing.
I'm also curious if the rate of suicide is up within this country.

Laura

    I don't think this is a Digital-related phenomenon.
    
    In times of economic recession and depression, suicide becomes a
    more popular way to solve one's financial problems, regardless of
    the employer.
    
    That's what _I_ think the cause is.

    I agree with Mike that the economy has a lot to do with the increased
    stress almost everyone seems to be suffering. And certainly the pace of
    our industry combined with layoffs and uncertainty about the future add
    to the stress.
    
    An additional factor to consider: about 10 years ago I was told that
    Dallas in particular had a higher-than-normal rate of suicide. This was
    attributed to the fluidity of its population and the fact that most of
    the people living in Dallas had recently (relatively) moved there,
    leaving their support networks behind.  I don't know whether this is
    still true, and I certainly don't mean to slander Dallas.  I'm only
    mentioning it because the presence--or absence--of supportive family
    and friends has a tremendous effect on one's ability to weather life's
    storms.
    
    I'm sorry to hear that DECcies, or anyone for that matter, are
    suffering so severely that they seek suicide.  It doesn't surprise me,
    however.
    
    Karen

    I can remember when I was just getting out of college, into a deep
    recession. The high techies were taking it on the nose. It was a cut
    back from the war machines of the Nam war. There were lots of suicides.
    The engineers and other folks were living a good life then the bad time
    happens. Every one had themselves financially extended to the max and
    you loose your job, and you suddenly find yourself with out a family
    cause money and comittment go hand in hand. Were else do you turn? 
    Your too old to turn to your graying haired folks for help. Your 
    relitives don't want to get involved, much. And suddenly Bessie 
    Smith's song 'God Bless the Child' lyrics have a new meaning. 
    
    And rich relations may give you a cust of bread an such,
    you can help yourself, 
    but don't take too much,
    
    Momma may have,
    and pappa may have,
    God bless the child whose got their own....

The second suicide has apparently been re-ruled an accidental overdose.  There
was apparently a lot of varied heart medications found all over the residence.
I don't know much more than that.

re: .5

There is a lot of truth in what you have said.  I suspect that suicide and
other things at DEC are more of a shock to me because I have always felt that
DEC is a giant family.  There was a similar kind of shock when I was told that
it was not unusual for employees to steal computer parts and sell them on the
side.  I guess I find it hard to understand why one would want to hurt one's
family.  Oh well, I guess reality sometimes is uncomfortable.

Bob

    <...One  hanged himself from a bridge and the other blew his
    <brains out....believe it or not, bother were over "less than perfect"
    <scores.......
    <now you can say, "well they had problems"......but isn't
    <it more society that has the problem of demanding more and MORE....
    
    
    They didn't kill themselves over "less than perfect scores".  They
    killed themselves because their self-esteem/whatever was so low that
    the scores OSTENSIBLY tilted the balance.
    The issue was their low self-esteem NOT their 'low' scores. I believe
    that low self-esteem is -at least primarily, if not exclusively- a
    familial issue not a societal issue.
    
    				herb

I was told at 'day one' presentation during my first month as a graduate with
Digital that the company has one of the highest suicide and divorce rates due to
the pressure employees put themselves under: the result of free-and-easy working
procatices, in Engineeering at least.

+Mark+