Living Longer? Living Happier?


葉音均

          In the past, the life expectancy of human beings was shorter, and people often died of poor medical care.  In modern times, people may have developed a better medical system and may live longer, but they are not really happier.

Recently, the cases of depression are increasing dramatically, and have become one of the three major diseases this century.  In official statistics, each year over 17 million people in the United States suffer from depression.  Of those, fewer than 30% get help!  Each year over 30,0000 people in the United States commit suicide. Of those, the majority had not seen a doctor.

It』s strange that when living in a world with such perfect medical care, people prefer to kill themselves than to accept therapy.  I think it has a lot to do with our changing society.  With the advancement of culture and keen competition, everyone is struggling for his/her life.  All are forced to compare themselves with others.  If they can』t catch up with the pace of others, they』ll be kicked off the stage and neglected.  When they lost control over their life situation and their emotions, they become depressed.  No one wants to be a loser, let alone being treated as a freak who may be disposed of at any time.  So when people find themselves in a tight spot and they have no one to help them to end this trauma, the thought of pain is so unbearable that the urge to die may become intense. 

The improvement of the medical system seems to extend the life expectancy of humans, but sarcastically, more and more people choose to commit suicide to end their miserable life.  Perhaps happiness is much more important than long life after all.

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