California has a worsening homelessness problem. Today, there are over 150,000 unhoused people in the state. Mental illness and homelessness have a bidirectional relationship. Often, people end up on the streets because they are unable to live within the normal confines of society. Homeless people are more likely to face violence and fall prey to […]
Tag: mental illness
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 […]
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 Woes of the Model Minority: The Dual Existence of Asian-Americans in the United States
On January 9th, 1966, the New York Times Magazine published an article by sociologist William Petersen called “Success Story, Japanese-American Style.” In the article, Petersen wrote that Japanese-Americans, despite enduring the “most discrimination and the worst injustices” of WWII-era internment, have achieved great success in America “by their own almost totally unaided effort.” Petersen goes on […]
In Defense of the Firearm
This is one part of the larger debate on gun control in the U.S. The opposing article can be found here. When discussing an issue that carries the gravity of loss of human life, it is critical not to mince words. Guns are tools with a very specific utility. They are machines designed to kill […]
Gun Violence and the American Mind
“Reform the mental health care system.” Time and time again, this has been the right-wing response to mass shootings. From three years ago, when 26 lives were lost at Sandy Hook Elementary School, to more recently, when ten people were killed at Umpqua Community College, right-wing politicians have consistently shifted blame onto the American system of […]