Gratitude. That word evokes some unsavory associations: a religious zealot insisting you are blessed, a parent lecturing you about their treacherous journey to school, or an out-of-touch celebrity on Thanksgiving. The gut response may be to cite all of the debts, hardships, and frustrations one regularly endures, and/or to point out the many others who […]
Tag: mental health
How Government Inaction Threatens Migrants’ Lives in a French Refugee Camp
Every year in northern France, between the popular tourist venues of the Opal Coast and the cold Flemish beaches at the border with Belgium, thousands of people hide behind dunes and between bushes waiting for the sun to set. When the sky is dark and the air still, they drag on the shore precarious embarkations—commonly […]
The Business of Eating Disorders
In 2023, beauty standards reign supreme, seemingly stony and impossible to truly change or avoid. Yet, throughout history, the definition of a “perfect” body has been incredibly transient depending on the time and place in question. From the Paleolithic curves of the Venus of Willendorf to the jutting collarbones and translucent limbs of the nineties […]
Fitness Influencers and the Unseen Market of Teenage Exploitation
Being trapped inside the house for months during the COVID-19 lockdowns gave everyone new options for how to spend their newfound free time: one could turn to binge-watching a new Netflix series, picking up a new hobby, or for many, attempting a new workout regimen. Thanks to social media, during quarantine, it became a trend […]
The Mental Health Challenge of Migration
Since the morning of February 24, when missiles first rained down and troops stormed into Ukraine under the direction of Russian President Vladimir Putin, 7.8 million Ukrainians have fled their besieged homeland. The majority have arrived in neighboring European countries, where they await the assistance of foreign governments. As the European Union (EU) grapples with […]
America’s Epidemic of Antidepressants
Although the end of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. appears to be in sight, the mental health consequences of the pandemic, as well as rising rates of antidepressant use in the past decade, reveal another public health crisis. Antidepressant use has skyrocketed since 1999, leading it to become one of the most popular types […]
What the Coronavirus Can Teach Us About Gun Violence
Only three years ago, mass shootings seemed to make national headlines nearly once a month. Gun control was at the center of the American political landscape as advocacy groups such as March for Our Lives (MFOL) emerged and sparked debates over gun control on the national level. However, as the coronavirus pandemic has consumed the […]
When a Diagnosis is a Privilege
Marcus was only 16 years old when he realized something was wrong. He’d sit in class unable to pay attention, twiddling his thumbs, shaking his leg, constantly confronting a rapid stream of unwanted, unwelcome thoughts. This feeling of uneasiness was no longer a transitory state, but one that began to dictate his entire life. Once […]
Trippin’ for treatment — why magic mushrooms might be the next breakthrough mental health drug
Psychedelic drugs are often associated with deadbeats, dropouts and eccentric musicians. Using them as medicine seems like something straight out a hippie handbook, but it is a concept that has been gaining traction among medical researchers in recent years. We are currently experiencing a renaissance of psychedelic research, exploring the potential applications of criminalized psychedelic […]
Trigger Warning:…
If you’re a student who has taken a social science course or a social media user who has ever encountered online political dialogue, you’ve probably been warned that the subsequent content might be triggering. While some perceive these “trigger warnings” as a modern fad of pop-psychology, it’s increasingly clear that these protective, avoidance-based notices are […]
When Inclusivity becomes Conditional: Racism, Body Shaming, and Femme Shaming in the Gay Male Community
As a crowd of individuals walk proudly throughout the streets, a gay couple affectionately kiss against a backdrop of rainbow. In this community, love always wins – except when it doesn’t. An image of equality and inclusion generally accompanies the LGBTQ+ community, and rightly so. As a group that has been outcasted and othered for […]
The Mental State of California’s Prisons
The United States is known for having the highest incarceration rate among all developed countries. The cause for this rate is highly debated, as there are several factors that contribute to mass incarceration. One factor that is being reexamined recently is the rate of mental health issues in the prison system. The national average suicide […]
A Thought on Rethinking Global Mental Health
This article contains themes regarding depression and other mental health complications. Reader discretion is advised. Psychiatric patients in Ghana’s prayer camps aren’t only tied down by the constraints of their mental ramifications, they are physically shackled, tied to dark concrete cells, and forced to eat, sleep and defecate in confinement. This treatment that seems […]
The Decrease of Psychiatrists in California: Another Battle for Mental Health
On average, 1 in 20 adults in California suffers from a serious mental illness that severely affects the way they go about their daily activities. That staggering statistic, although shocking, should not be surprising. College campuses are constantly reminding students of the importance in seeking medical attention in high-stress environments, and as early as elementary […]
The “Scourge of South Korea”: Stress and Suicide in Korean Society
“Suicide is everywhere,” says South Korean author Young-ha Kim, referring to modern Korean society, in his op-ed for the The New York Times. Countless others have documented what some call “the scourge of South Korea” – the fact that people of all classes, ages, and genders are committing suicide at exceptionally high rates. South Korea […]
Is It Time To Rethink the Economics of Happiness?
Underpinning the nation’s mixed economy is the well-reasoned belief that more money equates to greater happiness. Unfortunately, 2017 has proved this finding deceiving. As wages continue to rise, “National Happiness” has not blossomed, but languished. As the United States is confronted by an increasingly dissatisfied populace, politicians across the nation are scrambling to assuage their […]
The Critical Need to Enact Gun Control
This is one part of the larger debate on gun control in the U.S. The opposing article can be found here. Infuriating political stalemate aside, Congress must act to bring about gun control legislation. The current trajectory of federal inaction in the wake of a record number of gun-related massacres suggests the likelihood that it […]