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Depression and Suicide

Dr. Slem


I. Depression

  1. Prevalence

    1. General Population

    2. College Students

  2. "Normal" Depression

    1. Reactive Depression

      1. Situation Sensitive

      2. Adaptive

    2. Grief Reaction
      Check out Cal Poly's Psy 310's Web Resources for more on grief.

  3. Clinical Depression

    1. Excessive
    2. Intense
    3. Chronic

    4. or Source Unclear

  4. Triggers in College Students

    1. Academic Failures
      "That 1.79 gpa is just not making it."
    2. Career and Life Goals
      "What do I want to be when I grow up and how do I get there?"
    3. Social Relationships
      "Heartbreak 101"

  5. Models of Depression

    1. Biological Models

      Click on Thumbnail picture to see Lecture Figure
      Click on Thumbnail picture to see Text Figure

    2. Learning Models

      1. Reinforcement Theory
        "Loss of positive reinforcement"
      2. Learned Helplessness
        "Inability to control the environment"
    3. Cognitive Model

      1. "Thinking Causes Depression"

      2. Depressogenic Style

        • Negative view of self
        • Negative view of the environment
        • Negative view of the future





II. Suicide

  1. Prevalence

    1. General Population

    2. College Students

  2. Subintentional Suicide

    1. Person plays and unconscious role

    2. Types
      1. Autocide
      2. Slow suicides

  3. Causes

    1. Academic CONCERN

    2. Interpersonal relationships

      1. Pain and stormy affairs

      2. Isolation

  4. Is Suicide a Reasonable Alternative?

    1. Cultural Context

    2. Factors That Interfere

      1. Faulty Problem Solving

        • Define
        • Generate
        • Evaluate
        • If solution fails, repeat process

      2. Psychosemantic Fallacy

      3. Romeo and Juliet Myth

    Celebrating its 1,000th suicide recently. What is being done about the impact of this myth?

  5. Cal Poly Alternatives

    1. Counseling Center (756-2511)
    2. Hotline (1-800-549-8989)



These Psy 202 Web pages are an experiment. This is uncharted territory, and since Cal Poly students are the best, we would appreciate any feedback that you might have for us. If you think this is a good idea, let us know. If this is better than your experiences with other class web pages, let us know. If you have some helpful suggestions or constructive criticism (or good web sites), let us know. If you want to abuse us, don't let us know -- here is President Baker's address.
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