Depression and Suicide, Slow Productivity & Perfecting Ourselves to Death

I am excited to announce a special edition of our Journal Club this month. We have curated a collection of materials that provide an excellent introduction to discussing depression and other challenges common to most of us. With your help, I believe we can start building a collective experience as a work family and help each other better understand and mitigate some of these challenges.

Firstly, I have distributed a book titled Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig to our residents. This book offers an incredibly accessible account of one man's journey from severe depression back to a fulfilling life. It is a great resource that I encourage everyone to read. 

 Additionally, we have included a few brief Ted Talks that I believe will be both informative and inspiring. Gus Worland an Australian radio personality, shares his experience of losing his mentor. Kevin Briggs a retired California Highway Patroller, discusses his participation in over  hundred calls for "jumpers" from the Golden Gate Bridge. Also included  are talks from journalists Johann Hari and David Brooks both provide valuable insights on topics of depression and loneliness. 

We have included two articles from the New Yorker "It’s Time to Embrace Slow Productivity" and "Improving Ourselves to Death"  both great titles and thought provoking articles. 

 Please invest some time to review these materials. I believe that by collectively engaging these materials, we can make this a particularly useful JC.    

“It’s Time to Embrace Slow Productivity” Newport, Cal The New Yorker, January 3, 2022

  "Improving Ourselves to Death"  Alexandra Schwartz The New Yorker January 8, 2018

Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig Cannongate Books March 5, 2015 Summary