From "Vikram D" <vgd67@yahoo.co.uk>
To : <gaybombay@yahoogroups.com>

What the GB meet on Depression is about:

This is a subject I've felt we need to have a meeting
on for some time. No, I do NOT want to suggest that
there is anything about being gay or lesbian that
makes you intrinsically depressive. But from my own
observations, and from those made my other people and
groups, I think its a fact that there are many people
in the community who are suffering from depression.
And depression is not something to take lightly.

Let me be clear that when I say depression I'm not
talking about the temporary blues that all of us go
through. That's nothing like depression. Depression is
a disease - there is plenty of clinical evidence to
support that. One could debate the causes - chemical
imbalances in the brain, psychological causes - but
its for many people its a reality. And I think that
for many people in the commmunity, the difficulties
they face can be the trigger that sets off the
problem.

The consequences can be seen in various ways. For
example, a lesbian support group told me that they had
noticed many cases of alcoholism in the lesbian
community. It seemed that several of these could be
related to depression, which is why the group tried
linking up with a counseller on the issue. Other
manifestations could be extreme promiscuity, the mood
swings so many people in the community seem to go
through, the extreme bitchiness and aggression.

I don't want to go to the modish extreme and say that
all these are due to depression. But I think there are
likely to be several cases where underlying depressive
tendencies  play a role. (For those interested in
other aspects of depression I am attaching an
excellent article on the subject that came out in The
Economist some years back).

That's why I've occasionally floated the idea of
having a GB meet on the subject. And despite the fact
that its hardly a subject one might imagine people
would want to give over a Sunday afternoon to, I've
found lots of interest. So this Sunday meeting will be
on that. We are getting several people from the
community who have suffered from depression who are
willing to talk about it.

They will tell us what its been like, the effect on
their lives and how they have dealt with it. We will
also be getting a psychiatrist, who is actually the
mother of one of our GB members, to give her expert
view on the causes and solutions for depression. And
of course, if anyone who comes wants to talk about
their own experiences, or ask questions, they are more
than welcome. These are NOT lectures, but just general
interaction sessions on a particular subject.

Those who have come to GB meetings before will know
how all this can add up to something really meaningful
and enjoyable. Those who are coming, or contemplating
coming for the first time, you can be pretty sure
you'll find it worthwhile. If anyone is scared or
nervious about coming for the first time, get in touch
with me (at vgd67@yahoo.co.uk), or any GB regular and
meet them first and come with them, since that usually
makes it easier. But just make sure you come!

Vikram