The Epidemic of Depression by Elizabeth Western

     
In today's day and age, depression is growing rapidly as a major epidemic, "In fact, it's stated that more than 300 million people worldwide have depression" (Koskie). It's all around you and affects everyone life. It may be your sibling or friend who has depression or is going through a tough time in life. Depression needs to be viewed and recognized for what it is and what it causes. It has several side effects and causes many feelings and thoughts to arise. In some cases, it even causes thoughts or acts of suicide. Depression is an epidemic that is on the rise, but there are solutions to it in today's time.

        Depression goes back so far in history that there is no way of knowing exactly when or how it may have started or recognized. With that being said, not a single person or group could be said to have discovered depression. "It's estimated that 16.2 million adults in the United States or 6.7 percent of American adults have had at least one major depressive episode in a given year" (Koskie).  It is very frequently happening. Though there are several different reasons why these depressive episodes happen because there are different types of depression and leading things that cause it. "Every 40 seconds, we lose somebody to suicide" (Koskie). That's how big of an impact it causes. When you go to calculate the math, that's around 13,140 people in a year. Some of the symptoms according to Koskie:

• Extreme irritability over seemingly minor things
• Anxiety and restlessness
• Loss of interest in activities
• Fixation on the past or on things that have gone wrong
• Thought of death or suicide

Depression can be seen in your friends or family, and we work together to try to help and be there for that person. You try to get that loved one the help that they may need depending on the situation. There have been researched studies that have been done all over in schools in the community. Most people with depression usually range in the ages of late teens and mid-twenties. (Attachment1)
There are many treatment options to investigate the depression. There is medication, Psychotherapy, Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Light Therapy, and Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). You can sit down with a person and talk about what's wrong and possibly figure out a plan. "Psychotherapy was found to have a significantly lower rate of relapse (26.7 percent) than medications (56.6 percent)" (Koskie). Therefore, Psychotherapy may be a better option. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation "method uses magnetic pulses o stimulate the parts of your brain that regulate mood" (Koskie). Light Therapy is used mostly in the autumn to wintertime with seasonal depression, because of the amount of reduced light outside and the effect it has on your body. "ECT is a procedure in which electrical currents are passed through the brain” (Koskie).
There are many reasons why depression may occur. Loss of family member or a bad relationship with someone whether it be family, significant other, or friend. There are six most common types of depression in America, them being according to Koskie:

1) Major Depressive disorder
2) Persistent depressive disorder
3) Bipolar disorder
4) Seasonal depression
5) Postpartum depression
6) Psychotic depression

Clinical Depression, also referred to as Major Depression is a health disorder where you lose interest in everyday life events and have no desire to doing anything. You feel depressed or sad all the time, which affects your day to day life. "Persistent depressive disorder is also called Dysthymia it is a continuous long-term (chronic) form of depression" (Mayo Clinic). You can be viewed as a downer, that you never seem to have any fun, people or you will realize that you're always in a gloom mood.

         Bipolar Disorder or manic-depressive disorder affects about 2.8 percent of the United States population in a given year" (Koskie). One moment a person can be in a good mood and then, as if with the snap of your fingers, their mood can turn to an outburst of rage, anger, or depression with no apparent reason. They won't know where it came from or why. "Seasonal depression, also known as a seasonal affective disorder" (Koskie). It usually only happens during autumn through winter, during the times the holidays are near. "The reduced level in sunlight may disrupt your body's internal clock and lead to feelings of depression. Serotonin levels. Drop-In serotonin, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) that affects mood, might play a role in SAD"
(Mayo Clinic2).

        Postpartum depression is the aftermath of having a baby. "As much as 80 percent of new mothers experience the 'baby blues" (Koskie). The mothers are tired and exhausted from the new experience and not getting much sleep. All the pressure of keeping everything together, not to forget things. The new mothers may lose their appetite or train of thoughts. If it lasts more than a couple of weeks, it should be checked into more because it can be leading to major depressive disorder as well. Not only can this happen with the mother, but it can and does affect some fathers in the same way also.



       There is also Psychotic depression. "When major depression or bipolar disorder is accompanied by hallucinations, delusions, or paranoia. It's said that one in thirteen people will experience a psychotic episode before the age of 75" (Koskie). A person will think they saw something that really was not there or didn't happen. Then will freak out at times or just simply think somethings there that truly is not.
All these different depression disorders are mostly having similar symptoms such as loss in appetite fatigue (tired all the time), loss of interest in doing things, and low self-esteem. Some causes and risk factors for depression are the following stated by Koskie:

• low self-esteem
• Anxiety Disorder Borderline Personality Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Physical or sexual abuse
• Chronic diseases like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or cancer
• Alcohol or drug use disorder
• Certain prescription medications• Family history of depression
• Age, gender, race, geography (Koskie)

           All of these are examples of what may cause depression for some of the population. The stress of situations in life build up over periods and lead to depression. Symptoms and effects of depression can sometimes lead to the thoughts or actions of suicide.
Jowit, on a United States government website states, the describe depression as "losing interest in important parts of life"  Then "A visceral description is quoted by the UK campaign group Mind 'It starts as sadness, then I feel myself shutting down, becoming less capable of coping. Eventually, I just feel numb and empty" (Jowit). This shows how a modern-day person would feel inside while dealing with depression. A study shows, "While rates for depression and other common mental health conditions vary considerably, the United States is the 'Most depressed' country in the world, followed by Columbia, Ukraine, The Netherlands, and France. At the other end of the scale are Japan, Nigeria and China" (Jowit). (Attachment2)

        When diagnosed with depression, usually it is diagnosed if the symptoms have been going on for two weeks or longer. Then the doctors will look into the possibilities of what kind of depression a person has if any. Next, the doctors/ professionals can sit down with the patient and come up with a plan to resolve it together. "Clinical depression is treatable. Though, according to the WHO, less than 50 percent of those worldwide with depression receive treatment" (Koskie). For treatment the most used method tends to be antidepressants and counseling. For the majority, it works the most efficiently. Though each treatment method works well for its type that it is treating. Some don't always go for the medications because of cost and time. "According to a 2013 study, therapy had a lower rate of relapse at the one- to two-year follow-up. Psychotherapy was found to have a significantly lower rate of relapse (26.5 percent) than medications (56.6 percent)" (Koskie). Showing that in some cases just getting therapy may be a better option than the medication: "electroconvulsive therapy may be used which sent electrical currents through the brain" (Koskie).
     
        When dealing with seasonal depression the main treatment you hear about is Light Therapy. This is because during the holidays there is usually less light and sunshine outside, and it affects your body. Bringing down your mood sometimes leaving you not understanding why. So, people use light therapy which tends to work in those cases. When it comes back around to the spring and summer it sometimes improves on its own without treatment. It's said that "For severe cases, lectroconvulsive therapy may be used which sent electrical currents through the brain"  (Koskie). Even though there are all of these treatments and methods of attempting to help with depression, there is honestly no absolute way to say for sure that you will cure/fix/or change the depression. "Because it often starts in childhood or during the teenage years, identifying children at risk of the condition may help them get early treatment" (Mayo Clinic). As well to get diagnosed your doctor may do a physical exam, lab test, or a psychological evaluation. He/she will ask several questions about your past health problems. When taking the lab test, the doctors are trying to rule out any more chance of having to do with your physical health first. Once they have done that, then they will begin discussing your thoughts and how you feel. They are trying to evaluate what symptoms you have to be able to tell what kind of depression you may have. It's virtually a list they are checking off till they find the problem and try to come up with a solution. There is a difference between a child having depression and an adult. "For an adult, the mood occurs most of the day for two or more years. For a child, the mood or irritability occurs most of the day for at least a year" (Mayo Clinic). Some of the medications that are possible to take within the category of antidepressants are "Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Tricyclic Antidepressants, and Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors" (Mayo Clinic).

          When finding the right medication ,if you were to take medication, you may need to try several different types or combinations before you find the one that works for you. You should not stop taking any antidepressants abruptly because it can cause worsening in depression or a type of withdraw. You also most likely should not take the medication if you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant because of the risk it would put on your unborn child. It would be est to talk to your doctor first. "Although antidepressants are generally safe when taken as directed, the FDA requires all antidepressants to carry a black box warning, the strictest warning for prescriptions" (Mayo Clinic). This is because at the beginning of taking a new dose or prescription of antidepressant, teens and young adults have a greater chance of suicidal thoughts or behavior.

              Albert Campus' whole theory honestly connects through the epidemic of depression;
"Albert Camus was a Franco Algerian philosopher with some great insight on the meaning of life, why you should look to this life and not the next, and why suicide is a poor choice"
(Hendricks). He was always referring to what is the meaning to life. A lot of people with depression have these suicidal thoughts cross their minds as well. Camus does, however, state boldly about the meaning of life, "there isn't one and we can't make one either" (Hendricks). Everything Camus speaks of is an absurdity. He talks of how absolutely nothing in life has That being said, he most likely would think that depression is all attempted excuses for things that truly do not exist. Therefore, talking about solutions to depression, such as the medication or other methods, he would also see those as having no meaning. Camus would suggest, "get outside, enjoy the sunshine, go for a walk by the beach, play some football, have lunch at a café' with a friend, refuse to give in to despair, and embrace the nothingness of existence by choosing  to carry on with what you enjoy doing despite the lack of meaning to your actions" (Hendricks). Even though he saw that things in life had no meaning in his opinion, he still did not suggest giving up on life completely. Just live life to the fullest: that is the best you or anyone can do.

          Though in today's time depression does exist. It is real and affects people. It has been viewed as an epidemic for longer than anyone knows. The treatment said have worked for many people in the past and may work on others in the present and future. Every individual mental health professional may have different opinions on reasons or methods, but most revolve around the same idea of helping the patient work to resolve or help their depression. The thought and knowledge of depression are important to be known and discover more each day.

Works Cited

Hendricks. (2018, October 5). The meaning of life: Albert Camus on faith, suicide, andabsurdity. Retrieved from https://bigthink.com/scotty-hendricks/the-meaning-of-life-albert-camus-on-faith-suicide

Jowit, J. (2018, November 10). What is depression and why is it rising? Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/jun/04/what-is-depression-and-why-is-it-rising

Koskie, B. (n.d.). Depression: Facts, Statistics, and You. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/facts-statistics-infographic#1

Mayo Clinic. (2018, December 8). Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) - Symptoms andauses. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/persistent-depressive-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20350929 

Mayo Clinic2.Retrieved from https://www.who.int/mental_health/management/depression/wfmh_paper_depression_w mhd_2012.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1ggbmqIBXscX9I24OKjeQYj0ksMXFLMkaMqS8Wkwb9 vu7V8wlZD7npyrI 

National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). NIMH » Major Depression. Retrieved fromhttps://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression.shtml

Vaping Induced Lung Disease Epidemic by Peyton Bluitt

        

Vaping. What was once known as the so called “healthier” alternative to smoking cigarettes has now become an epidemic.  In recent days, it has been the topic of discussion as a result of the numerous lung disease cases that have been linked to vaping. Doctors have yet to figure out what pathogens in vape devices are responsible for these diseases, but there is definitely something lethal present. The puzzling part about these cases is the fact that vaping devices were initially promoted as healthy and safe. Imagine thinking that you are taking a step in the right direction by switching to a vaping device rather than smoking cigarettes only to realize that the both of them are equally as dangerous… how unfortunate. Vaping is now a widespread epidemic that is extremely dangerous, disease ridden, and misleading. 

        The history of vaping and electronic cigarettes dates all the way back to the 1930s. Joseph Robinson is responsible for the first ever documented reference of an electronic cigarette, though, it was never commercialized (“Historical Timeline of Electronic Cigarettes” 1). In the 1960s, Hebert A. Gilbert created the first vaping device similar to the modernized ones we have now. Gilbert created prototypes for vaping, but contrary to devices now, his prototypes did not contain nicotine. Similar to Robinson, Gilbert also failed to commercialize his prototypes. The first commercialized variation of electronic cigarette was created by Phil Ray along with the help of his personal physician, Norman Jacobson (Historical Timeline of Electronic Cigarettes” 1). This variation of the e-cigarette was not actually electronic, but rather relied on the evaporation of the nicotine. For this reason, the word “vape” came into play when describing these new electronic cigarettes. By the 1990s, though devices still were not exactly similar to modern vaping devices, more and more of these e-cigarettes moved toward commercialization. In the early 2000s, each year, vaping devices got closer and closer to our present day, modernized e-cigarette devices. In the earlier years of vaping history, vaping had not yet become an epidemic. Recently, though, the use of vaping has increased as well as the number of vaping induced lung disease (“Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with E-Cigarette Use, or Vaping” 1). The epidemic happened very quickly hence the reason for the sudden awareness of the dangers of vaping. In school, in grades as young as middle school, you can find fliers around the hallways that read “Do Not Vape!” When you are seeing signs about vaping in schools, it is apparent that there is a problem or in this case, an epidemic. In conclusion, vaping was a new and emerging invention until recently when it became an epidemic.

         The social effects that vaping has on society are really prevalent amongst the youth. Patients range from the ages of 13-75 years old and 79% of patients are under 18 years old (Christiani, 1). In high school, many of my peers were expelled from school because they were caught vaping in the restroom stalls! It happened so often that it eventually got to the point where students were given awards for catching their peers vaping. It seems like vaping (before this epidemic) was normalized for kids and that is sad. My peers would always speak about the abundance of flavors that a specific vaping device called “JUUL” had available. JUUL flavors include: Pineapple, mint, watermelon, strawberry milk, and many other flavors that children may be attracted to. Vaping companies such as JUUL intentionally use the flavors to attract young people because we are easily influenced in many aspects.

       Vaping is extremely dangerous and presents great health risks, but why exactly is that? Unfortunately, the answer to this question is unknown; In fact, doctors are still working to answer this question. Considering the most recent vaping induced lung disease outbreak, it does not take much to realize that something is very wrong with vaping devices. Despite not knowing what the exact causes of these lung diseases are, doctors have performed numerous studies to contribute to a possible cause. Ninety eight percent of vaping patients have respiratory symptoms such as: dyspnea in 87%, chest pain in 55%, cough in 83%, and hemoptysis in 11% (Christiani 1). Statistics like this can be extremely helpful in finding the causes of these illnesses. Based on this study alone, we can all conclude that vaping does affect one’s breathing. Another vital statistic found in the various studies of this epidemic is as follows: eighty one percent of patients had gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. According to Layden 2019, ninety four percent of patients reported the use of vaping within a week of symptom onset. The symptoms mentioned in these 2 studies were amongst the most common presenting symptoms of these patients whom all vaped within days of these symptoms. These studies further validate the fact that these lung illnesses are indeed caused by vaping: “Forty-nine states, the District of Columbia, and one U.S. territory have reported 1,299 cases of lung injury associated with the use of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette), or vaping, products,” (“Update: Interim Guidance for Health Care Providers Evaluating and Caring for Patients with Suspected E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products Use Associated Lung Injury- United States, October 2019| MMWR” 1).  This epidemic outbreak of vaping- induced lung disease has recently been given a name, “EVALI” (“Update: Interim Guidance for Health Care Providers Evaluating and Caring for Patients with Suspected E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use Associated Lung Injury- United States, October 2019|MMWR” 1). Health care providers diagnose EVALI based on symptoms and the history of the patient specifically their vaping history, since patients experience relatively the same symptoms. It has actually been reported that most patients diagnosed with EVALI have reported using THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) containing vaping products (“Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with E-Cigarette Use, or Vaping” 1). This means that vaping devices that contain THC are most likely the causes of these lung illnesses, however, there is no certain evidence of this. According to CDC, health care providers recommend refraining from the use of all vaping products as they all seem to cause some type of damage to the lungs (Shemerling 1).

          Vaping is terribly misleading. For many years, vaping has been portrayed as a healthier alternative to cigarette smoking. Vaping companies insist that their products can help people to stop smoking, but there is no real evidence to this. In fact, according to heart.org, research shows that users are more likely to smoke cigarettes and vape simultaneously also called dual use. Despite beliefs, there is more evidence to prove that vaping is just as dangerous as cigarette smoking. For example, the vast majority of vaping devices contain nicotine which is extremely addictive and cause damage to developing brains of teens, young children, and fetuses. Vaping devices are disease ridden, so it is quite unfortunate that vaping is generally considered safe. Vaping devices contain a plethora of harmful chemicals and pathogens that cause lung related illnesses; most of these harmful pathogens and chemicals are unknown (“Is Vaping Better Than Smoking?” 1).

As of today, there are many possible solutions to end this deadly vaping epidemic. With the growing number of research being done on these vaping induced lung disease cases, we may be getting closer to a solution! Honestly, the best solution would be to just cut the use of vaping as a whole; realistically, though, these solutions are a little more intricate.

         One possible solution to this epidemic would be to cut out the chemical in which is most likely the cause of these lung illnesses. Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC has been a present chemical in most of the vaping devices that were used by EVALI patients (“Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with E-Cigarette Use, or Vaping” 1). For that reason, many doctors and researchers believe THC may be a possible cause for these lung illnesses, though they are not certain. Fortunately, there are many other assortments of vaping devices that do not contain THC traces. Even though I want to believe that this solution will work, it most likely will not. There are plenty of other vaping devices out there that may not contain THC, but still brings about illness such as the JUUL  (Shmerling 1).

         Another possible solution to this epidemic would be to simply spread more awareness. The more people are aware of the negative effects that vaping has on the body, the more people will stop using it. In recent days, the vaping epidemic has been widely talked about on outlets such as: news channels, commercials, and articles just to name a few (“Is Vaping Better Than Smoking?” 1).  Evidently, this vaping epidemic has been widely publicised, but unfortunately not enough to put a stop to this issue!

        Camus was a very intricate thinker and thought in ways many people would not understand. He was a philosopher who had views that lead to the well known philosophy, absurdity (Itani 1). Now, some people may argue that vaping induced lung disease or EVALI is not absurd, but in many ways it is. Absurdity is defined as something that is essentially meaningless or just overall ridiculous (Maguire 1). Specifically, what is truly absurd about vaping is that their portrayed in such a positive light. Initially, vaping was supposed to be a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes as cigarettes were known to be disease ridden and unhealthy. The real question now is, what is the difference between cigarettes and vaping devices? They are both proven to be equally as dangerous (“Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with E-Cigarette Use, or Vaping”). Camus would agree that vaping is absurd as he already believed that nothing in life served true meaning (Maguire 1). Camus’s approach to absurdity was a bit dark, but it does serve a true purpose and surely relates to vaping. People need to hold on to the truth and realize that vaping literally serves no purpose. Vaping is absurd… meaningless and ridiculous.

        Vaping. What was once considered a healthier alternative to smoking has now become an epidemic. With the amount of vaping related cases, it is obvious that vaping has become an epidemic and needs to be taken seriously. Though, doctors are still not aware of what exact chemicals and pathogens are present in these devices that are causing these illnesses. It is apparent that these unknown pathogens are causing these lung diseases. As many health providers have said, it is best to not use vaping devices as they are evidently very dangerous (“Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with E-Cigarette Use, or Vaping.”1). It is very much possible for this epidemic to end, but it starts by getting educated on the true effects of it. People still do not seem to understand the effects that vaping has on the body, but a little bit of research can go a long way. Vaping is not at all worth it and hopefully people will realize it before this epidemic becomes even more widespread!

                                                                                                                 

          

Works Cited

Christiani, D.C., et al. “Imaging of Vaping-Associated Lung Disease: NEJM.” New England Journal of Medicine, 6 Sept. 2019, https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc1911995.

Farkas, Josh. “Vaping Associated Pulmonary Injury (VAPI).” EMCrit Project, 19 Aug. 2019, https://emcrit.org/ibcc/vaping-associated-pulmonary-injury/.

 Maguire, Laura. “Camus and Absurdity.” Philosophy Talk, 27 Feb. 2015, https://www.philosophytalk.org/blog/camus-and-absurdity.

Shmerling, Robert H. “Can Vaping Damage Your Lungs? What We Do (and Don't) Know.” Harvard Health Blog, 15 Oct. 2019, https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-vaping-damage-your-lungs-what-we-do-and-dont-know-2019090417734.

“For the Public: What You Need to Know.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease/need-to-know/index.html.

 “Historical Timeline of Electronic Cigarettes.” CASAA, 18 Oct. 2018, http://www.casaa.org/historical-timeline-of-electronic-cigarettes/.

“Is Vaping Better Than Smoking?” Www.heart.org, https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/quit-smoking-tobacco/is-vaping-safer-than-smoking.

 “Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with E-Cigarette Use, or Vaping.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 Oct. 2019, https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html.

 “Update: Interim Guidance for Health Care Providers Evaluating and Caring for Patients with Suspected E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use Associated Lung Injury - United States, October 2019 | MMWR.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11 Oct. 2019, https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6841e3.htm.

Sports Concussions by Jose Marquez

Envision dropping off your child to play his favorite sport or pastime. Moments later, a call is received advising that he or she is being transported to the local hospital after being hit in the head with the ball, causing a possible concussion. For instance, concussions can have long-term effects, therefore they need to be treated as soon as possible. Despite the fact if it is serious or not and regardless if it’s the first or fourth concussion a person develops. Concussions happen too often while playing sports, especially when it involves contact sports such as baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, and soccer. However, not everyone is aware of the damage concussions can cause in the long run. For example, the brain is an important and valuable organ, and it’s an organ needed to keep us alive and to move. Therefore, hard hits and injuries to the head area need to be taken seriously and treated properly to avoid side effects in the future. Furthermore, not all concussions are diagnosed immediately because not everyone develops the symptoms subsequently after the hit (“Concussion and Sports” 1). Coaches, parents, and athletic trainers need to be well educated and trained to prevent sports concussions. It is very important for all coaches and athletic training staff to have a well-rounded knowledge of the symptoms relating to concussions, in order to be able to treat them as soon as possible, and avoid further brain injuries.

History

In 1894, William Harvey, a former Penn State Football player, said the first concussion he received was in 1883 against Harvard (Harrison 1). Sports concussions became a prominent health problem in the early 21^st century. For example, football was one of the leading sports that contributed to concussion-related injuries (1). This era was also known as “The Concussion Crisis” (1). In addition, during this era, more concussions occurred within the sport, than any other active ongoing contact sport. Furthermore, several of the players that left the game for various reasons, were being diagnosed with health issues related to the concussions, or traumatic brain injuries, received while playing football. However, the football organizations were more focused on visible injuries rather than the concussions due to the fact a person cannot see a brain injury. As years went by and technology became more accessible and advanced in sports, equipment began to change. For instance, football organizations updated the players’ helmets to prevent severe head trauma, such as concussions in the early 21^st (1). This concussion crisis elevated a big concern in the football community. Platers were receiving head impacts and causing players to suffer from concussions. Organizations begin changing a few of the rules that are currently in place to prevent and protect the players (1). The NFL made illegal to make head to head contact when attempting to tackle a player. After much negotiation, the football community is now seeing settlements negotiated and professionals continuously working on finding solutions on how to prevent concussions from occurring. For example, considering football is not just being played at a professional level, but also by youth, middle school, and high school aged individuals. Therefore, it is very important that coaches in our educational systems are also well trained and prepared to treat and prevent sport concussions and brain injuries. The more knowledgeable coaches and athletic trainers have, the less likely of a possibility there could be, of our kids suffering from CTE or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.

            Every year, in the United States, approximately thirty-eight million young men and women, and even several children participate in an organized sport (Daneshvar, Nowinski, McKee, & Cantu 1). Unfortunately, 1.7 million people, including adults, are affected by a traumatic brain injury, also known as a TBI (1). Each year, an estimated cost of $60 billion is disbursed between emergency room visits and extended hospitalizations due to sports concussion-related injuries (1).  In addition, concussions became a more prevalent issue due to the fact many coaches, athletic trainers and other sports medicine professionals were not correctly assessing and managing treatments properly. Furthermore, many resources, such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), educated high school coaches and other professionals to help prevent concussions in our youth and adolescents (1).

Social Effects

Head injuries affect our communities more than we care to consider at many given times. For instance, sport concussions can cause minor injuries such as headaches, blurred vision, short term memory loss, and loss of balance (Concussions 1). Research has shown, head trauma can have small or short-term effects, yet it can also result in long term effects. For example, long term symptoms, of trauma to the head, usually are not present at the time of the incident. Most long-term effects are diagnosed hours or days after the traumatic injury (1). Therefore, long term injuries need to be taken with high precaution and diagnosed as soon as possible. A few of the long-term effects are: disorder of smell and taste, sleep disturbances, and trouble concentrating (1).  Leagues in small towns have also been affected greatly by the plague of traumatic brain injuries and its unwavering penalties. Over the years, small town little leagues have to make sure all coaches and staff take precautionary actions when children begin to display signs of concussion type symptoms. In addition, coaches have to make sure every player has the correct equipment, most notable the proper headgear to prevent concussions.

Examples of the Epidemic

In 2002, Dr. Bennet Omalu conducted an autopsy on a legendary football player that played with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a center (Breslow 1). This legendary player was Mike Webster, also known as “Iron Mike” who played football from 1974 to 1990. Mike Webster died at the age of 50, but Dr. Omalu believed he looked a lot older. (1). Webster died at a Pittsburg hospital after suffering a heart attack.  As a neuropathologist, Dr. Omalu focused more on Mr. Webster’s brain where he made a surprising discovery (1). Dr. Omalu diagnosed Mr. Webster with a disease that has not been diagnosed within football players (1). The condition is chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, the first hard evidence that playing football and receiving head trauma can lead to permanent brain damage (1).  Mike was the first football player diagnosed with CTE (1). Dr. Omalu believed that Mr. Webster’s brain had severely damaged slides for a fifty-year-old man (1). Playing football for a little over a decade and a half, caused Mr. Webster’s brain a significant amount of impairment. Furthermore, after his retirement, he was diagnosed with amnesia, dementia, and depression. These are all common symptoms of long-term injuries due to concussions. Currently, it is unknown if the equipment used nowadays would have prevented Mike Webster from suffering the way he did.

            Ken Stabler was a professional football player that was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in the Class of 2016 (Bush 1). Ken was also known as the “Snake” in the football community (1). Ken played professional football from 1968 to 1984 as a quarterback for various teams (1). Ken begin his football career at the University of Alabama before being drafted in the second round by the Oakland Raiders. He had a remarkable 15- year career in the National Football League “NFL,” ten of those years with the Oakland Raiders winning a championship in 1977 (1). In December of 1945, Ken passed away from colon cancer. Dr. Ann Mckee believed Ken might have eluded the worst of CTE (1). Dr. McKee found that if Ken hadn’t passed away from colon cancer, CTE would have fully developed, making Ken lose his mind (1). According to Ken’s daughters, Ken frequently complained of chronic headaches that lasted days. It’s likely to say that Ken suffered several concussions while playing football, not forgetting the ones that were probably went undiagnosed. It is unsettling to see such a great person and football hall of famer suffer from chronic headaches after retirement. Retirement should be a time to enjoy life and look back on your achievements, not a time to suffer from the very fruits of your labor.

            On September 8, 2015, Tyler Stash passed away on what was confirmed an accidental suicide on pain killers. Tyler was a football player who played with the New York Giants from 2011 to 2012 and released in 2013 (Graziano 1). According to The New York Times, Stash was unable to meaningfully find employment due to his memory loss and minor fits of temper, all related to CTE (1). Stash’s mother told the Times that sometimes she didn’t recognize her son’s decision making and reasoning (1). Sash’s brother told the Times that Sash had suffered two concussions during his high school career, one in college and multiple during his two-years playing in the NFL (1).  CTE has been discovered, in several of the brains, of football players throughout the years.

Many players who are diagnosed with CTE were diagnosed with high level after death. Therefore, more training should be required to diagnose concussions and preventional tactics should be put in place for players, in order to prevent brain damage and retiring with chronic headaches.  

Solutions

There is substantial evidence that traumatic brain injury to youth and school athletes in contact sports results from the cumulative effects of repeated low-grade or sub-concussive hits (Lench 1). The research has shown, better training and coaching will assist in preventing some, but not all, sports concussions or traumatic head injuries. Furthermore, reducing repetitive head impacts, limiting full-contact practices, better equipment, and head impact exposure will also help prevent traumatic brain injury (1). On the other hand, head injuries cannot be avoided entirely but experts and scientists believe the risks can by gravely reduced by just following some of the steps mentioned above.

A 2009 study done by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, found that high school football players sustain greater head accelerations after impact rather than their counterparts of college football players (Nate 1). For example, these impacts lead to concussions and cervical severe spine injuries (1). Furthermore, high school football athletes represent the single largest football groups in the United States (1). The study also showed that in any given year, between 4 and 6 percent of high school football athletes sustain concussions, which estimates to 43,200 to 67,200 injuries annually (1). It’s understood that football had an issue that needed a quick solution to prevent further damage to our present and future players. Helmet to helmet contact is one of the most concerning situations in football, about concussions. Strong evidence supports, being hit on the top of the head increases the risk of concussions and severe cervical injuries. Therefore, avoiding helmet to helmet contact would be a way to prevent as many concussions (1). Findings in the present study also concluded, that athletes who tackled with their heads down and received impact to top-of-the-head were 86.4% likely to be diagnosed with a concussion (Lench 1). However, athletes who made tackles with their head up and received impacts on another area of the head were 24% likely to receive a concussion (1). This study set out recommend coaches to improve teaching of “head-up” tackling. This is a form of tackling that would keep the players head up when attempting a tackle to prevent head to head impacts.

Referees and officials contribute to a significant portion of sports concussions. For instance, as a spectator, you often rely on an official to make the right calls, enforce the rules, and carry a positive attitude to create a fun and safe game for the athletes (Preventing Concussion 1). In addition, they also ensure all players are equipped with proper equipment incase contact is made with another player (1). It’s crucial for officials to enforce the illegal contact rule (1). When officials implement these types of rules it allows both teams to play a safer game. Referees are often a solution to the problem by enforcing the rules and preventing illegal hits, which often lead to concussions.

As mentioned before, equipment makes a substantial impact on how the sport is played. It affects the skills of the players and, most notably, their safety. Since the concussion epidemic started, the NFL and other organizations have developed different football helmets in order to help prevent concussions, but at the same time keep the same style. For instance, a football helmet is equipped with a variety of pads to assist in absorbing the impact when a player makes head to head contact with another player (Knap 1). According to the Seattle based sports equipment company, 25 NFL teams are using the Zero1 football helmet, which was ranked No. 1 in 2017 by the NFL/NFLPA (1). However, the NFL is not the only group using these helmets (1). Twenty teams in the NCAA football organization are also using the Zero1 football helmets (1). These helmets were designed by Vicis to help in reducing the risk of concussions and other brain injuries while playing football. Professional football player Doug Baldwin, a receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, is working with Vicis, in order to make sure they can provide the football organization, with a helmet that will protect players from future brain injuries (1).

Camus and Absurdity

            Albert Camus was a French-Algerian journalist and philosophical essayist who believed life had no meaning. Albert believed nothing exists that could ever be a source of purpose, and hence there is something deeply absurd about the human quest to find meaning (Maguire 1). Therefore, there’s no logical reasoning behind an epidemic that caused so many individuals to live with a brain injury that was a consequence of a concussion. The reason equipment is upgraded and continuously updated is the simple fact we all care for one another disregarding how cruel everything is around us (1).

Conclusion

Sports concussions are common among athletics and especially in games with head to head impact, such as football. As the years pass by, technology has also improved and created new and advance helmets and headgear for a variety of sports. The sporting community has learned that using proper equipment is one of the most effective ways to prevent concussions and future brain injuries for our children. However, coaches are just as responsible as are trainers in making sure they are up to date on new rules, procedures, and medical procedures.  Players need to understand the severity of the sports they participate in and what can occur if treatment is not sought quickly. Furthermore, players and parents also need to be educated in recognizing concussions to prevent fellow teammates and children from playing after receiving a hit to the head. Players often purchase the most updated equipment and are trained by the best and still obtain concussions. The focus should be on to recognize the injury and learning how to treat and prevent this injury from happening again or causing a more significant problem. Our brain is one the most critical organs in our body.

Works Cited

Breslow, Jason M. “The Autopsy That Changed Football.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 6 Oct. 2013, https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/the-autopsy-that-changed-football/. Accessed 20 Oct. 2019

Bush, Kim Ross. “Ken Stabler.” Concussion Legacy Foundation, 15 Aug. 2018, https://concussionfoundation.org/story/ken-stabler. Accessed 22 Oct. 2019

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Preventing Concussion.” BrainLine, 21 Nov. 2017, https://www.brainline.org/article/preventing-concussion. Accessed 29 Oct. 2019

"Concussion and Sports." BrainLine, 28 Aug. 2018, www.brainline.org/article/concussion-and- sports. Accessed 28 Sept. 2019.

Daneshvar, Daniel H, et al. “The Epidemiology of Sport-Related Concussion.” Clinics in Sports Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2011, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2987636/. Accessed 13 Oct. 2019

Graziano, Dan. “Tyler Sash CTE Level 'Had Advanced to Stage Rarely Seen' at Age 27.” ESPN, ESPN Internet Ventures, 27 Jan. 2016, https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/14655379/tyler-sash-former-new-york-giants-safety-had-high-level-cte. Accessed 22 Oct. 2019

Harrison, Emily A. “The First Concussion Crisis: Head Injury and Evidence in Early American Football.” American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, May 2014, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3987576/. Accessed 13 Oct. 2019.

IEP. “Albert Camus.” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, https://www.iep.utm.edu/camus/. Accedded 4 Nov. 2019

Knap, Patty. “Revolutionary New Football Helmet Will Lower Concussion Risk.” Aleteia, Aleteia, 24 Aug. 2017, https://aleteia.org/2017/08/24/revolutionary-new-football-helmet-will-lower-concussion-risk/. Accessed 4 Nov. 2019

Lench, Brooke de. “Seven Ways To Reduce Risk of Traumatic Brain Injury In Sports.” MomsTeam, https://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/seven-ways-to-reduce-risk-of-brain-trauma-in-contact-and-collision-sports. Accessed 29 Oct. 2019

Maguire, Laura. “Camus and Absurdity.” Philosophy Talk, 27 Feb. 2015, https://www.philosophytalk.org/blog/camus-and-absurdity. Accessed 4 Nov. 2019

NATIONAL ATHLETIC TRAINERS' ASSOCIATION. “Head Impacts Greater Among High School Football Players.” MomsTeam, https://www.momsteam.com/sports/study-finds-head-impacts-among-high-school-football-players-greater-than-collegiate-level. Accessed 29 Oct. 2019

Office of Public Affair. “Concussions: How They Can Affect You Now and Later  .” University of Utah Health, 17 Nov. 2016, https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/postings/2016/11/concussion.php. Accessed 20 Oct. 2019

Suicide Epidemic by Celia Ortiz

There are many solutions to suicide, one being medication prescribed by a psychiatrist. According to American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, “Research shows that teaching health care professionals to recognize and treat depression is an effective way to reduce suicide rates. Because that is a proven fact, we focus here on how depression can be treated, both with medications and with psychotherapy” (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention). Psychotherapy is the treatment of mental disorder through psychological means rather than medication. There are many medications for mental illnesses like depression. A few medications for depression include Zoloft, Zyrtec, lithium and rexulti.

Being a victim of suicide twice, once in 2008 and once again in 2018. In 2008, after being evaluated and sent to a psychiatric hospital there was and diagnose of mental illness of depression, which lead to attempt of suicide. In the psychiatric hospital, medication for depression was prescribed. A few months later medication was discontinued due to being uninsured.  Treatment was not followed up and unfortunately, there was still a risk for suicide.  In 2018, suicide was attempted once again, but this time there was health insurance and a follow up with a psychiatrist and a therapist. The psychiatrist prescribed me plenty of medication until we found the correct dosage and milligram; “At this time, there is only one medication, clozapine, approved by the FDA for suicide risk reduction in patients with schizophrenia. There is one study of mood disorder patients that shows that treatment with antidepressants, atypical antipsychotics, and lithium reduced death by suicide” (“Treatment”).

    Another solution for suicide is prevention. For instance, some people commit suicide when they overdose. That can be prevented by not doing drugs or mixing anti-depressant medications with what is prescribed. There is a national day to prevent suicide, which is stated as:

September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day and as such, we've pulled together the suicide rates of a selection of countries, by gender. Of the 25 looked at here, the World Health Organization estimates Russia to have by far the highest rate among men, at 48.3 cases per 100,000 populations in 2016. For women, India has the highest rate, with 14.5 cases. On the whole, more men than women commit suicide however there are some exceptions. In China, the rate for women is 8.3 while for men it is 7.9. (Armstrong)

There is also a National Suicide Prevention Hotline to call when feeling down so you can speak to someone if you are feeling alone and feel like committing suicide.

Suicide can be prevented by not having suicidal thoughts. One way to not have suicidal thoughts is to shift your way of thinking. As Juliette Lewis stated, “The bravest thing I ever did was continuing my life when I wanted to die” (Lewis). Think about the family and friends who love and care about you and how hurt they would be if you succeeded in killing yourself. Finally, spread hope and a positive outlook on life.

Emotional support is another solution for suicide. Having a therapist or even just someone to talk or a support system, such as friends and family, will help. There are also support groups through National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), an organization that is dedicated to build better lives for millions of Americans who are being affected by mental illness. According to National Alliance of Mental Illness, “Let them know that mental health professionals are trained to help people understand their feelings and improve mental wellness and resiliency” (NAMI). 

Prayer is another solution for suicide. Prayer only works if you believe in the greater power. There is also a prayer for suicide prevention. Your faith must be strong with God. According to Drew, “For those thinking about suicide prayers help but are not enough” (Drew). In certain instances, some people need more than prayer to overcome suicide. Prayer does not work because suicide is a mental illness that is usually only cured through medication. In addition, according to Thomas, “They deserve us reminding them that seeking professional help is not a sin against God” (Thomas).

  Albert Camus was a philosopher and a French novelist. Albert Camus’ beliefs relate to the topic of suicide because he thought that life was worth living. Camus would never consider suicide or would want anyone to commit suicide, because that would be “judg[ing] life [as] not worth living” (Aronson). Albert Camus would think about the outcome and result of this epidemic topic. Albert Camus would think that the suicide epidemic was absurd. Absurd is lacking sense, illogical and inappropriate. Camus believed that suicide was a poor choice, and he also thought it was a serious philosophical problem (Aronson). According to Camus, life was absurd in various ways: life had no meaning; everyone was going to die, and cyclical mundanity (Mcguire; Maden).

The topic of suicide epidemic is very important because the world is at risk. Many close friends or family members can be suicidal and succeed in snuffing out their lives. The average daily suicide is 123, and this makes the epidemic the tenth leading cause of death (“Treatment”). Suicide can be prevented, and it continues to rise. With your help, the suicide epidemic can be stopped. Help be a part of the solution to the suicide epidemic and encourage victims to seek out support systems, for instance, prevention with prayer, medication, emotional support, and to avoiding suicidal thoughts.  

Works Cited

Armstrong, Martin. "Infographic: Suicide Rates Around the World." Statista Infographics, 10 Sept. 2019, www.statista.com/chart/15390/global-suicide-rates/.

Aronson, Ronald. "Albert Camus." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2017, plato.stanford.edu/entries/camus/.

Drew, Anne-Marie. "For Those Thinking About Suicide, Prayers Help'but Are Not Enough." America Magazine, 28 Dec. 2018, www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/09/28/those-thinking-about-suicide-prayers-help-are-not-enough.

Lewis, Juliette. "Suicidal Thoughts Quotes (98 Quotes)." Goodreads | Meet Your Next Favorite Book, www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/suicidal-thoughts.

Macguire, Laura. "Camus and Absurdity." Philosophy Talk, 27 Feb. 2015, www.philosophytalk.org/blog/camus-and-absurdity.

Maden, Jack. "Camus on Coping with Life's Absurdity." Philosophy Break, Jan. 2019, philosophybreak.com/articles/absurdity-with-camus/.

National Alliance of Mental Illness. "Risk of Suicide." NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness, www.nami.org/learn-more/mental-health-conditions/related-conditions/risk-of-suicide.

Thomas, Danyelle. "If I'm Suicidal, Please Don't Tell Me to Pray – Unfit Christian." Unfit Christian, 8 Feb. 2019, www.unfitchristian.com/if-im-suicidal/.

"Treatment." American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. AFSP, 12 June 2018, afsp.org/about-suicide/preventing-suicide/.

Homelessness by Khristina Garza

         Imagine being one of those thousands of people who were homeless and had nowhere to go. Just to be alone and isolated from everyone. These homeless individuals once had a normal life, such as driving a car to and from work, having a home, and a family that was waiting at the end of the day. Instead, of a comfortable bed that was once laid on, the individual now awakes from the bench at the transportation station to the sound of cars screeching and roaring. It is time to start the day; with a new job that is to find somewhere to freshen up. Then, there is the endless task of standing on a bustling intersection with a sign that says, “Anything will help”. Some people stop and give a few dollars because it is all they have. Time seems to pass these people going about their day. But for the homeless, it is as if time slows down. At one point, before being homeless, many individuals had it all, and in a blink of an eye, life was transformed upside down. Homelessness is a growing epidemic and until the problem is solved, the numbers will continue to grow.

          According to The National Alliance to End, Homelessness gathered, “A total of 552,830 people were experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2018. This number represents 17 out of every 10,000 people in the United States”. These numbers include men, women, children, and veterans. To become homeless can happen in 3 types. Short term homelessness is due to a major life event like a loss of a job or foreclosure on a home. Episodic homelessness is being homeless in spurts. And, finally, there is chronic homelessness, which is a permanent or long term situation.

The History in Homelessness in the United States –The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NBCI) states “Homelessness dates back to Colonial America as early as the 1640’s. This was a result of the King Phillips War 1675-1676 against the native people; colonists were greedy by taking the Indian land, which left thousands of colonists and Native people to become refugees.” Then, the Depression of 1857 increased the number of homeless people due to no help from the government. By the Civil war in 1870, the numbers of homeless people continued to increase. During the 1980’s HIV/AIDS epidemic increased causing more homeless people, welfare programs were being cut, and lack of affordable housing became more of a problem.

         The perception of events that occur to make one homeless is this.  First; the individual loses their job which results in unpaid bills and eventually foreclosure on the home. Secondly; the individual would need to live somewhere temporary whether that’s with friends or family. Three; the individual’s time is up, they have worn out their welcome which means the individual now has to live in their car until they no longer have money to put gas in it or the car breaks down or it gets repossessed. Fourth; this results in the individual with literally nowhere to go but the public streets. There have even been a few celebrities that have experienced homelessness such as; Idris Elba he moved to America to pursue his acting career when he was unable to get a job and he slept in his car for three weeks. Kurt Cobain grew up with financial insecurity and violence. He slept under bridges and in hospital waiting rooms before becoming a famous rock star. Kelley Clarkson before she won American idol her LA apartment burned down and she lived in her car.

          The homeless affects our community in many ways morally and hurts our social way of life. A community shares common features such as having a safe place to live because everyone respects one another and there is diversity and stability. So what is being done when there are people who are different such as the homeless? These people are ignored who are different and looked down upon. The shame and hurt the homeless must feel when everyday people walk by and act like they are invisible. To point the finger at the individual for not trying hard enough to get a job. What if that person has tried to get a job, by walking to an interview because they do not have transportation, wearing the only clothes they have to be presentable? Growing up it is taught to get a good job, a degree or certificate must be obtained, dress professional, and be well mannered.  For the homeless even trying to get a job can be a missed opportunity because even if they did everything the interview required there is a possibility, they would not get the job due to appearances. Our society stereotypes and judges people based on appearances. Homeless people are accused of being the problem and not the problem being a broken system. The 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama said: “If poverty is a disease that infects the entire community in the form of unemployment and violence, failing schools, and broken homes, then we cannot just treat those symptoms in isolation we have to heal that entire community.”

Homeless people seem to be everywhere. At the intersection, under a bridge, at a traffic stop, sitting on the curb at the store, or donut shop. When these individuals are seen there are possible feelings of pity, empathy, responsibility, and hope, by bystanders. One person can make a difference and multiple people making a difference and change the world. What if all it took was one person to change multiple lives.

Maybe there have been frustrated by a homeless person predicament because it is challenging, day to day “normal” business such as going to work forty hours a week, paying bills, making sure the family is provided for and making enough to put food on the table. How we look at our homeless affects all our physical health, mental health, and spiritual health. When a person is not cannot afford basic necessities such as medicine, food, shelter, or transportation makes the situation even more stressful, often leading to doing drugs, addiction, or prostitution.  Loss of self-esteem, becoming institutionalized due to mental illness, loss of ability and will to care for oneself, increased danger of abuse and violence, increased the change of entering the criminal justice system, and development of behavioral problems.

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services has assistance programs like the State Medicaid Housing Agency Partnerships, Healthcare for Homeless, Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH), Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs, and Family Violence and Prevention Services Grant Program. With all these programs to help aid homeless individuals, why are the numbers still growing? The numbers are growing because of bills higher than earnings, debt to income ratio, housing, and healthcare that is not affordable, and change in family status. Less homeless people means more people paying taxes, more contribution to society, where the money goes elsewhere; infrastructure, education, affordable healthcare.

The Obama Administration signed homelessness legislation on May 20, 2009, into law called “The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH)” Act focuses on getting families back into homes as soon as possible. Meanwhile, President Trump made plans to meet with Ben Carson regarding homelessness in California. “The ten states with the highest homeless rates account for 55 percent of the homeless population. New York, Hawaii, Oregon, California, and the District of Columbia is top of the list.” According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. “It has been estimated that it would cost about $20 billion for the government to effectively eliminate homelessness in the United States.” a Housing and Urban Development official told the New York Times. This would result in people becoming healthier and a decline in admissions to health clinics like ER, and urgent care. Until America can have truly affordable healthcare, jobs that pay more than minimum wage, affordable housing, homeless population will continue to increase. Being homeless costs taxpayers a lot of money, to keep shelters open, fund resources, and pay for those ER/hospital visits. The basic necessities of living are hard to keep up with this time and age, especially when the opportunities are limited. Government assistant programs are available but, can only help the individual so much. It depends on their location, what job is available, what resources are available, if the living area is affordable, and sometimes the cheaper means what is convenient not what is safest.

       “Homelessness remains an important policy problem: on any given night in 2016, around 550,000 people experienced homelessness. This corresponds to 0.06% of the total population in the country; 1 in 1,670 Americans is homeless. In the number of homeless people by shelter status in the United States graph says the number of homeless in the U.S fell by almost 100,000 people.” According to Our World Data.org. With all the government assistance programs funded whether it be government or non-profit, these do not work due to a long waitlist for housing. Housing is a problem but not the reason why many people end up homeless. Addiction, prostitution, and family violence are just a few reasons people end up on the streets. Government programs have requirements for these homeless individuals who severely show the need for resources. This may be considered encouraging the individual to continue their bad habit if one is addicted to drugs for example. By providing the necessities such as hot meals, toiletries, showers, and shelters. This is could be enabling a homeless person to stay in their current situation because they know there will be someone who will help them.

          Solutions that work the best include one of the most successful housing-based programs to help homeless individuals would be the federal housing program also known as Housing Choice Vouchers or Section 8. Also, there are inventions that have been made by consumers such as Lava Mae, a mobile that debuted in June of 2014 was created by a San Francisco non-profit organization which offers showers on the go. Then there are food pantry distributions sites are available in various locations within communities. Camus’s absurdity does relate to the homelessness epidemic because it is absurd that the United States is a very wealthy country, yet there are thousands of people living on the streets. This is a result of a broken system that no one wants to address, just make temporary fixes. Some individuals are forced into homelessness because one is unemployment or low wages.

Homelessness is important because it can happen to anyone at any time. Celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Steve Jobs, Sylvester Stallone, Tyler Perry, Chris Pratt, and Jim Carrey experienced homelessness.  We treat homeless people like they are invisible and a bother to society. Veterans, men, women, and children are living on the streets. It takes the government, nonprofit organizations, and community organizations to work together to help each other with outreach programs. This begins with grocery stores donating food items, Walmart can donate blankets and personal items. We have to fix this broken system because, the problem is not the individual, and it is not being able to afford a house. Homelessness is a cycle that will continue until basic needs can be met.  Having a home to live in, a safe environment, and basic necessities promotes an individual to be abundant and contribute to society. Having a place to call home increases a person’s position of self-worth and self-value. This is good for mental; the mind is cohort, physical; the individual is healthy, emotional; the individual is happy, and spiritual health; the individual has something to believe in. The United States has plenty of resources such as: Continuum of Care Program (COC), Emergency Solutions Grants Program (ESG), Rural Housing Stability Assistance Program (RHSP), Title V Program-Federal Surplus Property used to Assist the Homeless, HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-CASH), and The U.S Interagency Council on Homelessness to aid for the homeless However, it starts with communities and individuals volunteering, taking action, and education. People plan and take action to end homelessness. Hopefully, in the future, the numbers will decline as industrialization; technology, urbanization, and medicine continue to grow. 

Works Cited

“Children and Families.” National Alliance to End Homelessness, Creating a Successful Diversion Program for Families; , 16 Aug. 2011, endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/who-experiences-homelessness/children-and-families/.

Ebbs, Stephanie. “Trump Targets California for Plan to Deal with Homeless on 'Our Best Streets'.” ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sept. 2019, abcnews-go-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/trump-targets-california-plan-deal-homeless-best streets/story?amp_js_v=a2&_gsa=1&id=65692079&usqp=mq331AQCKAE%3D#aoh=15733188215216&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.go.com%2FPolitics%2Ftrump-targets-california-plan-deal-homeless-best-streets%2Fstory%3Fid%3D65692079.

“Ending Chronic Homelessness Saves Taxpayers Money.” National Alliance to End Homelessness, 17 Feb. 2017, endhomelessness.org/resource/ending-chronic-homelessness-saves-taxpayers-money-2/.

Engelmayer, Caroline S. “As Homelessness Crisis Grows, the Trump Administration Has Made Few New Efforts.” Google, Google, 26 July 2019, www.google.com/amp/s/www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-07-25/trump-mostly-ignored-homeless-crisis-worsening%3f_amp=true.

Gallagher , Therese. “Homelessness Is a National Crisis.” U.S. News & World Report, U.S. News & World Report, 4 Mar. 2019, 12:23pm, www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2019-03-04/commentary-homelessness-is-a-national-crisis.

Gillespie, Sarah, and Mary K. Cunningham. “Five Things the Federal Government Did to Help End Homelessness (and Three Things It Might Not Get to Do).” Urban Institute, 21 Oct. 2016, www.urban.org/urban-wire/five-things-federal-government-did-help-end-homelessness-and-three-things-it-might-not-get-do.

HHS Office. “Resources.” HHS.gov, US Department of Health and Human Services, 3 July 2017, www.hhs.gov/programs/social-services/homelessness/resources/index.html#ResourcesforPolicymakers.

Hobbes, Michael. “Why America Can't Solve Homelessness.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 19 May 2019, m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5cd1cac0e4b04e275d511aba.

Kavoussi, Bonnie. “U.S. Could End Homelessness With Money Used To Buy Christmas Decorations [INFOGRAPHIC].” U.S. Could End Homelessness With Money Used To Buy Christmas Decorations [INFOGRAPHIC], HuffPost, 7 Dec. 2017, m-huffpost-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/m.huffpost.com/us/entry/2276536/amp?amp_js_v=a2&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQCKAE%3D#aoh=15716452265148&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffpost.com%2Fentry%2Fhomelessness-christmas-decorations_n_2276536.

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