What is currently called “depression” needs splitting up into finer grained categories because it’s become a useless catch all term at this point. I would argue that the people who are really truly rendered catatonic (and so likely have something seriously wrong in the brain that needs addressing with drugs) should be in one category and I would argue this is quite a small minority. I personally believe that the “depression” the majority are experiencing is more akin to what Johan Hari talks about in Lost Connections and it’s root causes are absurd societal structures and political failures which are deeply harming people. If someone feels trapped in a hopeless situation and this drags on for years because society is not providing any means to help them escape and improve their lives then depresssion is a pretty inevitable outcome.
In a modern day society it really isn’t acceptable. Give people access to low cost housing. Reduce the cost of education so no one is priced out of it or forced into massive debts. Subsidise healthy food and tax junk. Subsidise gym memberships and sports clubs for the poorest. Increase the amount of therapists being trained and make them more accessible. Pay people proper wages. Watch depression plummet. The solutions are there - why is there no political will to enact them?
Edit:
I have no idea why but people are reading “subsidise” and seeing “free”. That is not what I said. Subsidise the things you want to encourage so it is cheaper for the consumer at the point of sale and do the opposite for the things you want to discourage. The cost you pay as a society ends up being less in the long run. Less people ill and ending up in hospital means more people working and paying taxes etc.
In a modern day society it really isn’t acceptable. Give people access to low cost housing. Reduce the cost of education so no one is priced out of it or forced into massive debts. Subsidise healthy food and tax junk. Subsidise gym memberships and sports clubs for the poorest. Increase the amount of therapists being trained and make them more accessible. Pay people proper wages. Watch depression plummet. The solutions are there - why is there no political will to enact them?
Edit:
I have no idea why but people are reading “subsidise” and seeing “free”. That is not what I said. Subsidise the things you want to encourage so it is cheaper for the consumer at the point of sale and do the opposite for the things you want to discourage. The cost you pay as a society ends up being less in the long run. Less people ill and ending up in hospital means more people working and paying taxes etc.