Suicide and Depression in Young People

Paper Summary:

This paper is a comparison of the suicidal behaviors exhibited by troubled teenager Conrad Jarrett in the film, "Ordinary People", with two people, Elizabeth Wurtzel and Kelly O'Connor, real people who have experienced depression and contemplated suicide. Themes in this paper include depression's effects on everyday functioning, loss of emotional control, and the motives behind attempted suicide, among others.

From the Paper:

"The film "Ordinary People", which was directed by Robert Redford, showcases depression as seen through the eyes of an adolescent. Behind the idyllic upper middle class lifestyle of the Jarrett family lies a history of tragedy and turmoil. Ever since the eldest son, Buck, died in a boating accident, the family has been falling apart. The mother has been suffering from a lack of empathy, the father has been struggling to keep his family together in these times of heartache, and at the center of it all is his younger brother Conrad. Guilt-ridden over having survived the accident, he spirals into a state of depression that ultimately leads to a suicide attempt. Now, recently discharged from a four month stay at a mental facility, he seeks the guidance of a therapist, Dr. Berger; the sessions and exchanges with the doctor are the focal point of the movie."

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