According to your textbook, North Americans have one of the highest rates of depression in the world. They also have more depression reported cases than they had reported 100 years ago. Which factors might contribute to this phenomena? In order for the student to earn all the points, it requires a posted typed Discussion and a Reply to a classmate’s Discussion, and to follow the instructions below: 1. A minimum of one complete paragraph explaining your understanding of the chapter of your choice. 2. You may include examples, experiences, and theories. 3. Note: a paragraph is a writing structure that requires a minimum of five complete sentences. 4. These five or more sentences should represent a valid knowledge of the topic. 5. The Discussion also requires a Comment or Reply to a classmate’s Discussion. 6. This Comment or Reply requires a minimum of three complete sentences. 7. It is not only about the number of sentences, but the valid knowledge of the topic represented through out the paragraph (Discussion) and/or the three sentences (Comment or Reply). And we are talking about “university student’s sentences” not “Mary is a girl or Tom is a boy” kind of sentences… 8. These three sentences should represent a valid knowledge of the other student’s Discussion. 9. Note: Sentences just expressing your opinion and/or perception of your classmate’s Discussion, and/or complimenting your classmate do not count for points, i.e., “I love what you wrote about…”; “You did a great job…”; “I agree with you”… Replies Iveisy The phenomenon of increasing rates of depression in North America compared to a century ago can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, societal changes and increased stressors in modern life may contribute to higher rates of depression. With the rapid pace of technological advancements, economic pressures, and changes in family structure, individuals may experience heightened levels of stress, leading to mental health issues such as depression. Additionally, there has been a growing awareness and destigmatization of mental health disorders, resulting in more individuals seeking diagnosis and treatment for depression. This increased reporting could skew the comparison with rates from a century ago when mental health issues were often overlooked or dismissed. Furthermore, changes in diagnostic criteria and improvements in mental health awareness may also contribute to the apparent rise in reported cases of depression. Overall, a combination of societal, cultural, and diagnostic factors likely plays a role in the observed increase in depression rates in North America. Lennar That the North Americans have one of the highest rates of depression in the world is not by accident in my opinion. First of all, the world we are living in moves so fast. Students have to make huge decisions about what they are going to do in life right after their high school finishes. In the US are roughly 40 million people in student debt which is a lot of mental pressure. The pressure to perform at the highest level while figuring out what you really want in life can be terrifying. Another factor might be that nowadays people talk more about their feelings and care more about there mental health. I can imagine that 100 years ago people didn’t talk that much about what is bothering them and kind of fight through. The biggest issue might be that the increasing dissolution of families takes away a mental safe space for humans where they can go when something is not working out. I think plenty of people feel alone and misunderstood these days. The feeling of loneliness also occurs because of the lack of social contacts. It feels like social media connected all of us online, but divided us in real life. With fewer real life interactions the confidence and self-esteem decreases, which can cause depression. I believe that the biggest difference 100 years ago was that they didn‘t have a phone. Without a phone the people were forced to interact and not disappear on TikTok or Instagram when they feel like it.