At my school, depression is viewed as a part of our high school experience. If you're not depressed, that means to a lot of people that you're not working hard enough. It's a viewpoint that's very unhealthy and one that nines to foster a community of mentally disabled individuals who refuse to take care of themselves.

Somethings that's also not discussed is that men can also suffer from postpartum depression. According to WebMD, 1 in 10 fathers has moderate to severe postpartum depression. This depression often results in a lack of engagement in the upbringin of a child, negatively affecting their child's developmental advancement. I find that this issue is not discussed enough.

Although this aspect of African culture is seen as the norm, I do believe that just because the issue of depression isn't discussed, that doesn't mean it does not exist. In many African cultures, mental health is not something that's taken seriously. I've heard multiple times from family or in African media that mental health is a "white people" problem and that therapists are useless and for those who are mentally weak, etc. The support and respect for the elderly can do wonders in boosting self-esteem and a feeling of importance, but respect doesn't prevent depression. As Sabahat said above, it can lead to feelings of forced dependency and weakness.

Often at the older stages of your life, many people begin to question themselves and their accomplishments. Many people begin to questions whether they've made the most of their time on Earth, what they could have done, things they shouldn't have said, promises they never kept, etc. These thoughts, often accompanied by a sense of worthlessness and failure, take a toll on the mind and often lead to depression and other mental issues.

This comment is really valuable. For many people, signs of depression or mental instability can be more obvious but, was Abby pointed out, internalizing depression can be very easy for many people. This is something that we, as a society, need to keep in mind when discussing depression and how to address issues surrounding it.

Some teenagers hesitate to get help because in many cultures, not just in America, there are preconceived beliefs and stereptypes held about those with depression. For some people, depression is a fake ailment, and for others, it can be a sign that something is wrong with the person and that they must have done something to become depressed. These are just two examples of problematic beliefs that prevent a lot of people from getting help. Another obstacle can be the lack of resources in certain communities. For others, they simply don't have the necessary funds to seek professional help.

Although it may not be the most positive response, I believe that people's responses to those who aren't vaccinated is justified in many ways. In the privileged, modern society that is the United States, it comes as a shock to many that people optionally deny medical services that aren't available in many other countries. Also, oftentimes anti-vaxxers justify their decision with responses like, "Vaccines cause autism", but don't or can't back it with any scientific evidence. It can, and often does, come across as ridiculous. There exists a frustration with anti-vaxxers because oftentimes they understand the numerous benefits of vaccines and how privileged they are to even have the option to be vaccinated, but still find a way to justify their stance.

Vaccines are extremely beneficial, despite numerous attempts made to criminalize them as causes for conditions like autism. They are very effective against infectious diseases, including measles and smallpox. There has also been a positive trend over the years of the effects vaccines have had on our society, both nationally and abroad.