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In my argument map, I have clearly listed most of the reasons for depression causes and its consequences when left untreated. Events ranging from school grades to losing financial stability and the possibility of becoming addicted to drugs, and alcohol, to escape depression. Having ample time to look into depression and its root causes(brain-wise) will help me understand the research topic much more. Rather than using small sources, having research from certified Doctors and Scientists who’ve cooperated with those who’ve been through depression will give valuable insight and information about depression. Finding out the true contents of depression and its effects will help me understand if this illness is something that doesn’t need serious attention or if it does. I need to explore and read more about society’s response and view toward depression and the lives depression has taken, is it shameful? Or is it something that requires time to solve? Creating more arguments and possibly another branch about the hidden solutions to depression will give me more routes to take when researching this topic. I will start by searching for these topics little by little to use them in the argument map, having extra sources to gather information will help me in making depression look like a huge disaster to one’s life. Which it is by the way. Additionally, having a source written directly by multiple survivors of depression and possibly suicide will help me analyze and understand what they felt during their tough times. Finding out what helped them and what scattered their progress towards escaping depression as well as death itself. I will continue to search for more solutions for depression as well as the problems that could take place when it has reached a dangerous stage of grief, sadness, and hopelessness.

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Source 1. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/04/health/depression-treatment-deep-brain-stimulation.html

Source 2. https://psychcentral.com/depression/tips-for-finding-motivation-when-youre-depressed

Source 3. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/23/health/mental-health-crisis-teens.html

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1. What can we do as a community to help prevent depression even take place, or appear at all?
2. Can the government create new policies which encourage the mentally ill and increase the support they need?
3. Is Depression a major and vital problem that truly needs to be resolved?

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The age-adjusted rate of overdose deaths increased by 31% from 2019 (21.6 per 100,000) to 2020 (28.3 per 100,000).

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Drug Overdose Deaths Remained High in 2021

More than one million people have died since 1999 from a drug overdose. ¹ In 2021, 106,699 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States. The age-adjusted rate of overdose deaths increased by 14% from 2020 (28.3 per 100,000) to 2021 (32.4 per 100,000).

Opioids-mainly synthetic opioids (other than methadone)-are currently the main driver of drug overdose deaths. Nearly 88% of opioid-involved overdose deaths involved synthetic opioids.

Opioids were involved in 80,411 overdose deaths in 2021 (75.4% of all drug overdose deaths).

Drug overdose deaths involving psychostimulants such as methamphetamine are increasing with and without synthetic opioid involvement.²

1. Wide-ranging online data for epidemiologic research (WONDER). Atlanta, GA: CDC, National Center for Health Statistics; 2022. Available at http://wonder.cdc.gov.

2. Mattson CL, Tanz LJ, Quinn K, Kariisa M, Patel P, Davis NL. Trends and Geographic Patterns in Drug and Synthetic Opioid Overdose Deaths - United States, 2013-2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2021;70:202-207. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7006a4.

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Here is why drug overdose deaths remain high. See drug overdose death rate maps and rate change maps and graphs in the U.S.

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The annual total number of deaths increased 25% between 2019 and 2020 (from 78,927 to 99,017). The annual total number increased another 10% between 2020 and 2021 (from 99,017 to 108,791).

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By the Numbers

The figure above shows the number of alcohol-related deaths each month in 2019, 2020, and 2021. The annual total number of deaths increased 25% between 2019 and 2020 (from 78,927 to 99,017). The annual total number increased another 10% between 2020 and 2021 (from 99,017 to 108,791). A death was considered alcohol-related if alcohol was listed in a death certificate as the primary cause (e.g., alcohol-associated liver disease) or a contributing factor (e.g., death from a fall while intoxicated).

Rates of deaths involving alcohol increased by less than 2.5% per year in the two decades leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 25% leap in 2020 was unprecedented. Per capita consumption of alcohol, measured as gallons of pure alcohol per person, increased by 2.9% in 2020. This was the largest increase in more than 50 years, since a 3.4% increase in 1968.

"The fact that alcohol-related deaths continued to climb in 2021 is truly concerning," said Aaron White, Ph.D., Senior Scientific Advisor to the NIAAA Director. "NIAAA's hope is that continuing to educate the public and the health care community about the potential health risks of excessive alcohol consumption and that continuing to emphasize the importance of alcohol screening and brief intervention can help bring these numbers down."

References:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [Internet]. National Center for Health Statistics Mortality Data on CDC WONDER. Multiple cause of death, 2018-2021. 2023. [cited 2023 Feb 9]. Available from: https://wonder.cdc.gov/controller/saved/D157/D324F825

NIAAA. Surveillance report #119: apparent per capita alcohol consumption: national, state, and regional trends, 1977-2020. [cited 2023 Jan 19]. Available from: https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/surveillance119/CONS20.htm

Also in this issue...

Feature

News From The Field

A Closer Look

Spotlight

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Alcohol-Related Deaths Continued To Increase in 2021

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By the Numbers The figure above shows the number of alcohol-related deaths each month in 2019, 2020, and 2021. The annual total number of deaths increased 25% between 2019 and 2020 (from 78,927 to 99,017). The annual total number increased another 10% between 2020 and 2021 (from 99,017 to 108,791).

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When the depression have no where to turn to, their family and friends have left them, they turn to drugs and alcohol. Addiction. This is what some of the depressed rely on, they ease the pain and sadness by drinking till they pass out, or drug themselves so they feel better. This can severely harm their bodies and those around them, it leads to their rationality to decrease and commit bad deeds. This doesn't help depression at all, but rather feeds the fuel that fights motivation. The one solution which helps.

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When some people go through tough times by themselves, they naturally love those who help them fight. But, for something as serious as depression, hearing the word "forget" or the phrase "forget about your past" destroys them. It angers them. It will tip their depression over the edge, making them do things they have never thought of. Shootings, murder, self harm, these are the events which occur when a person is completely ignored or taken lightly when going through such struggles. It may be hard to help those who are severely depressed, but angering them isn't an option.

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When someone gets ignored they feel annoyed and mostly angered by the fact they've been completely walled off. But if someone were to have for example cancer, is it okay to tell them "Don't worry, cancer is easy to beat who cares" even though that person has not fought through the struggles of cancer? Things like can negatively affect someone, whether or not they know that person has gone through what they've been through. It's disheartening and discouraging, it can impact them greatly as they feel like they're truly weak compared to others.

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The last and one of the very few paths for the depressed who have received no help. Suicide is the worst and most painful choice to take, it is when they believe there is no other option but death. They muster the courage to seek help but receive none, they were rejected, disregarded, and forgotten by the people they once trusted.

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consequences of taking depression lightly

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consequences of taking depression lightly

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Ignore your depression, forget about it. 

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Ignore your depression, forget about it. 

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Even though anti-depressants have shown some success in the US and in other countries, it is not effective for everyone. It isn't a cure or a miracle that befits all the emotions someone has endured. There are side effects to these depressants which can include things that can ruin someone's life even more. Insomnia, weight gain, and nausea, these effects don't mean much but the effects it has on a person's physical/mental body. It is disastrous.

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it's simple to solve, just use medication! Find something you love to do!

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it's simple to solve, just use medication! Find something you love to do!

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"Depression can make you feel like nothing will help, or that any relief will be temporary, and it can create a cycle of maladaptive thinking, feeling, and doing (or non-doing). However, depression is treatable, and in addition to psychiatric treatment and therapy, there are steps you can take to cope with depression"   - ADAA

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The perspective on depression has been changing throughout the world and the society in the US, for some people depression was seen as a weakness and sometimes a disease. People don't like interfering or getting involved with those who are depressed as people nowadays think it'll lead to their names being involved with their death. Suicide. But there are still many people that understand, and people who are truly learning that depression is a serious matter, it is a medical condition that requires desperate treatment, support, and attention. The problem is that society can shame or even disregard the depression that they feel ashamed and afraid of seeking help, leading to their unfortunate actions or ultimately death. With everything that's going on in life, hearing about being depressed is "weak and unsightly" will make them isolate themselves even more. Making it hard to find them in the midst of the chaos in the daily world. However, there are many companies and organizations that seek out for these individuals, they ask for help from the community and the government itself to make the suffering of the depressed to ease and be eradicated. They provide resources and ample efforts to support them, the people who are struggling.

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Depression and why it needs to be solved, the number of depressed increases as people continue to ignore the issue.

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Depression and why it needs to be solved, the number of depressed increases as people continue to ignore the issue.

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Depression takes away motivation and the necessary will to live life. Motivation acts as both a goal and counter to depression, it takes time and effort to work towards overcoming depression. But this "motivation" is the ruler when it comes to war, sickness, and sadness.

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Motivation is something that everyone needs, especially for those who are going through tough times or people who need a goal in mind. It helps a person stay constantly focused and eager to continue working towards their goal. This motivation can be gained from simple tasks and positive reinforcement from friends/family. Motivation gives a person hope and the strength to keep moving forward, no matter how difficult it gets.

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Having a career or a physically + mentally demanding job isn't easy, managing taxes, debts, and bills adds to one's tank of stress. Being financially unstable for extended periods of time can have a huge impact, a negative one. People who have parents that aren't financially stable tend to have more pressure in school and for their future. They need to succeed in order to help their family.

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Trauma comes from things such as a sudden death of a friend or family member, events that have left a terrible memory in one's head gives them stress whenever it appears again. Trauma might be extremely scary, but stress can come naturally, but for people who are already going through rough times it's deadly(ex: being fired, divorce, major injury, etc.)

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Students who don't get good grades even with time and effort put in can still struggle, and they see that even their best effort amounts to nothing. In school, students are vulnerable to bullying, cyberbullying, and other forms of harassment. Things like that stack on top of them, intensifying their stress and chances of depression.

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Depression is one of the many things that kill people all over the world, and the thought of suicide is painful. It is a Mental illness that destroys a person's motivation and will to live, they essentially lose all hope. This is why in order to save these hundreds of millions of people, we must give use our strength and kindness to save them before they take their own lives.

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Background/Info:  Depression & Motivation

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Background/Info:  Depression & Motivation

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Depression. It is one of the toughest mental illnesses to break out of. Daily habits and activities become boring and the will to do mandatory things such as homework, chores, or work is nonexistent. Failing to do these tasks makes the person feel even worse and particularly frustrated with themselves as they are not motivated to complete them. Depression can easily destroy a person's future if not treated quickly or properly, it can even intensify to the point where they feel suicidal. The point of this mental illness is to scatter their focus, essentially the pathway of a person's future is hindered by the effects of depression. Stress, work, failure, all of it stacks up and pressures the person's mind and body, making them feel miserable and hopeless. This overwhelming feeling reduces a person's motivation, they’re in “short supply”(Harvey, 1) for finding joy in life. The exhaustion, and feeling like a failure constantly runs through their mind, it gets in the way of work, communication, and functioning properly as a whole. These feelings of failure can spiral out of control, and the stress from falling behind and losing the very things that create happiness for someone may intensify the lack of motivation. The cycle is vicious, the relationship between motivation and depression is like a never-ending war. Lacking the will to function and find meaning in life makes it harder to spot even a speck of hope, and falling into the trap of feeling worthless and hopeless creates a dangerous situation. The unfortunate and people who’ve received no help, turn to suicide or think about self-harm on a daily basis. Adding on, relationships and daily activities may deteriorate because of the lack of energy and willpower someone has, this low energy makes it hard for the person to do basic self-care. Exercising, eating three meals a day, and getting enough sleep are things most depressed patients give up on. Thus, leading to mental and physical health issues. Depression isn’t an illness that can be resolved in an instant, motivation and boosting this is the most efficient way to regain hope. Small steps and time are what heal the depressed, minor adjustments and positive reinforcement can make a big difference for those who are suffering greatly. Just like “building muscle”(Harvey, 6), it’s best to exercise and strengthen one’s motivation regularly to make it stronger. It may sound simple, but the dangerous feelings of constant failure, hopelessness, and fatigue can make solving depression seem “insurmountable”(Harvey, 7). Focusing on regaining motivation and working on small goals is the right way to treat depression.

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- Depression
def: persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness

- Exhaustion (worn out)
def: a state of extreme physical or mental fatigue.

- Failure (feeling of defeat)
def: lack of success.

- Hopelessness
def: a feeling or state of great despair; lack of hope.

- Motivation
def: the general desire or willingness of someone to do something.