<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2715.400" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080>strictly speaking, Michael, anything is possible.  some people tune out the clues of a person preparing to commit suicide.   but if that person reflects, under the encouragement of a therapist or other knowledgeable party after the tragedy, the clues become highly apparent -- such as giving away one's possessions, a sense of tranquility now that the decision has been made, etc.   i notice that doug mentioned the latter as an outward symptom of relief and resolve, which is clinically quite correct in many instances -- backed up by steve perry's email message also.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080>the people closely associated with J. Clifford Baxter apparently had their antenna out and didn't pick up a single indication that his "suicide" was in the offing.   in fact, just the opposite.   from a political and clinical standpoint, there is little or no doubt in my mind that this was not a suicide.  people enjoying retirement and making positive plans for their future don't just wake up one morning and say to themselves, "hey, i think i'll commit suicide today."   if that were the case, there'd be a lot more enron execs dead due to loosing "great pride" derived from beating the system in style.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080>it's extremely difficult to be a "closet" clinical depressive.   the symptoms of clinical depression are so devastating that it's impossible to keep them from those closest to you at all times.   and from most people.   ever seen a pal who looked a little depressed?   multiply that by a thousand and you've got clinical depression.   it's easier to hide an elephant at a tea party.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080>R</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=mpollak@panix.com href="mailto:mpollak@panix.com">Michael Pollak</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=lbo-talk@lists.panix.com href="mailto:lbo-talk@lists.panix.com">lbo-talk@lists.panix.com</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, April 12, 2002 1:35 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Enron suicide note disclosed</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><BR>On Thu Apr 11, Carrol Cox wrote:<BR><BR>> An overwhelming number of suicides, whatever their immediate occasion,<BR>> have clinical depression as their general context.<BR><BR>No argument there.  I have an honest question though.  I was under the<BR>impression that while the pain may be indescrible, the fact that a<BR>clinically depressed person is depressed is inescapable to both themselves<BR>and anyone who sees them on a daily basis.  So that if you asked people<BR>afterwards, Was he depressed at lot in the weeks before? they'd all say<BR>yes.  Is this wrong?  Can you be a sort of closet clinical depressive, so<BR>that people who talk to you every day would never suspect?<BR><BR>Michael<BR><BR><BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>