In the Australian election suicide prevention has been identified as a priority. I can’t help but wonder if the investment wouldn’t be better made in supporting or developing mental resilience than preventing suicide. Earlier support rather than later I mean.
I am indebted to journalist Susan Maushart for talking about the drowned rat study of 1957. Resilience or determination was developed in rats or maybe it was just hope.
Rats that were trained to hope swam, while locked in jars filled with water, for 60 or more hours. Inexperienced, or un-hopeful, rats would sometime persevere for as little as 15 minutes before giving up and drowning. It’s a horrifying and compelling study.
Why did some keep on swimming in a Nemo-esque fashion while others chose to give up? Hope?
I hope our government invests in ways to build hope in addition to rescuing the drowning. Both are needed but one has more power, and allows for greater self determination. For now keep on swimming, just keep swimming Nemo.
Hold on to hope.