Abby, could your parents be approached by gently reminding them that God gives us the intelligence to help one another and that is what a psychiatrist would be doing. Using his gifts that God gave him. I know I have a family member like this and that is how I talked her into seeing someone. I'm kinda leaning towards a trauma of some kind also. Was he close to anyone that might have hurt him, either emotionally or physically? I definitely feel that he's depressed. I know the feelings that he described. I hope that he gets help and that everything goes well for him and for you. Please keep us posted on his progress. Pat