THE DEPRESSION EPIDEMIC

Matilda Mooney 

Professor Hammett

Essay 1 Argument Proposal

13 March 2023

Word Count: 1078

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A Modern Social Epidemic: Depression

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The concept of a happy lifestyle, being carefree, and ignoring the responsibilities of life is a commodity that we all dream of. Unfortunately, reality sets in quicker than we’d think. It is not surprising that depressive disorders have become recurrent in today's society. Studies have shown that young adults feel less inspired and less motivated than ever before (Forbes). As such, there has been a drastic increase in the clinical diagnosis of depression across the nation, and its rise in analysis has grown this illness towards a stage of social epidemic. This despondence can lead to serious psychological damage as well as interference with the functionality of a person's everyday life. By understanding the establishing factors of this disorder, introducing control measures, and discovering effective treatments, we can better understand people who are struggling and prevent the spread of this disease to allow those to live a safer and more enjoyable lifestyle.

Every year, about 17 million American adults experience a period of clinical depression. Depression can affect anyone, and many observations have proven that this disorder can cause both physical and emotional harm. Depression has become one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, involving stress and situational changes in our view of the professional world, and most untreated cases of depression have led to alterations in our social and academic profiles. According to the Mayo Clinic in their overview of depression, “For many people with depression, symptoms usually are severe enough to cause noticeable problems in day-to-day activities, such as work, school, social activities or relationships with others. Some people may feel generally miserable or unhappy without really knowing why” (Mayo Clinic, 1). This study proves that there can be many factors that increase the risk of developing a depressive disorder and that our experiences can differentiate distinct levels of depression based on specific events. While some factors of depressive disorders may be genetically linked, the only way we can truly prevent depression from developing is to control our mindset. The symptoms of depression are often different for each person. Some people may experience low self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness, difficulty concentrating, and lack of energy due to certain habits. Because depression is a chemical imbalance, it can only be cured through certain means of treatment specializing in chemical reconstruction. By observing these traits we can attempt to treat and prevent the development of depression among young adults. 

Although depression can be caused by many different factors, its development is extremely common among teens. The number one cause of teen suicide is untreated depression, which is why it is important to get treatment if you recognize any symptoms in a teen. Feelings of guilt and shame are often presented through our early childhood peers, and most young adults are still developing their sense of identity to learn how to process these certain events. This makes them vulnerable to pressure, academic stress, and issues in personal relationships. These factors are directly related to triggering stress and linked to mild depression. As claimed by Cambridge University Press, Daniel J. Smith, and Douglas H. R. Blackwood, “Affective illnesses may present at any age, but it is becoming clear that patients who suffer from recurrent and severe forms of mood disorder often experience their first episode of illness early in life” (Smith and Blackwood, 1). With this understanding, we can learn to treat patients based on distinctive needs. The most common form of treatment for depression and anxiety is talk therapy. To manage depression you must first identify the feelings that you have, then put these feelings into perspective, and focus on the positive things in your life, instead of dwelling on past problems that allow clients to express their point of view. Although, this system of treatment is only 75% effective among the psychiatric association. Other forms of treatment include medication such as antidepressants and potential medical procedures like conducting surgery. Unfortunately, these remedies only keep symptoms at bay, and there is no permanent cure to end the struggle with depression. But, utilizing a cognitive-behavioral approach to teach individuals how to manage their mood is the most effective means of curing depression. 

There are so many factors to be considered when looking at depressive disorders. The complex interplay of biology, psychology, and environmental factors significantly contributes to the development of depression. A major component of this is the usage of social media. Social media allows individuals to interact non-socially, creating a sense of isolation. The rapid growth of the internet and technologies, especially allowing access to younger audiences, has led many researchers, along with parents, to believe that the cons outweigh the pros of the negative effects of social media platforms. These concerns include anxiety, online harassment, sleep deprivation, and internet addiction. As reported by Michael Gamon, and Scott Counts through Microsoft Research, Redmond, they abstract that, “...we measure behavioral attributes relating to social engagement, emotion, language and linguistic styles, ego network, and mentions of antidepressant medications…social media contains useful signals for characterizing the onset of depression in individuals, as measured through a decrease in social activity, raised negative affect, highly clustered ego networks, heightened relational and medicinal concerns, and greater expression of religious involvement “ (Gammon and Counts, 1). This idea is also present in an additional source of Microsoft Research, in alliance with Gammon and Counts, “...social media provides a means for capturing behavioral attributes that are relevant to an individual’s thinking, mood, communication, activities, and socialization…the emotion and language used in social media postings may indicate feelings of worthlessness, guilt, helplessness, and self-hatred that characterize major depression” (Munmun De Choudhury, 1). The influence social media has on teenagers causes them to view the relationships they share with others differently. It is affecting the way kids look at friendship and intimacy. Limiting our daily social media use can reduce feelings of loneliness, and isolation. We can also teach future generations to use social media as a way to connect and to pay attention to what we present, and how we feel when using these platforms. 

To effectively address the widespread impact of the depression epidemic, it is crucial to adopt a comprehensive approach that combines early intervention, increased access to mental health resources, as well as the destigmatization of seeking help, and a focus on holistic well-being. By prioritizing this research, education, and community support, we can foster a society that is better equipped to understand, prevent, and ultimately cure depression, allowing individuals to lead happier and healthier lives.