The question of whether it is the clients or the women who have perpetuated the expansion of the business of prostitution is an important one. I think one of the bigger problems is that many women are forced into prostitution rather than allowed to choose it as a profession. This is why legalization is offered as a solution; it might allow women who do not have a way out of the profession an exit. Until we as a society, shift away from a patriarchal mindset, the buying and selling of sex will be inherently unequal.

In regards to your question about whether legalizing prostitution would make "John's" punishment more or less severe, there is a more fundamental problem with prosecuting crimes against sex workers. Logically, it would make sense that "John" would be able to be punished more severely if the women he mistreated when he was a pimp would be able to speak out. Unfortunately, as stated by Simon Hedlin, a former adviser for gender equality and human rights to Sweden's PM, "It may not be easy for either consumers or law enforcement to distinguish individuals who are selling sex with their consent from those who do not. In a legalized environment, unlawful commercial sex acts can therefore masquerade as legal." Sweden was one of the first countries to legalize prostitution in 1999. https://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2016/10/17/why-legalizing-prostitution-may-not-work/#38b97e6f6678

The war on Marijuana began as an attempt to demonize Latin American immigrants. In 2019, the views on the drug are changing, but clemency is only being granted to white people. I think the war on Marijuana is a small battle in a larger war against immigrants and minorities. Immigrants and minorities are being presented as an issue to appease poor conservative voters who are being disenfranchised by their own parties.

I think it is a slippery slope to insinuate that all drugs should be prohibited. Certain ones, like alcohol, are ingrained (pun intended) in American culture. As we look back at the 1920s we know that prohibition was a massive failure, it actually caused harm. Therefore, outright banning substances is not a viable option. I think that working towards a society where people feel secure and happy will make them less likely to do drugs, even more benign ones like Marijuana.

I think it is really interesting to see that India is in the coral color (illegal, but unenforced.) One of my relatives who is very much Indian is pretty liberal, so I don't know if this is just a reflection of them, but in the past they have talked somewhat openly about using weed. They also talked about knowing many people who gathered in public spaces to take part in marijuana use. It sounds like it could have been socially acceptable.

I think that this is a really important issue. While, money generated from marijuana sales should go towards schools, the specifics should be looked at closely. Many low income people, usually black or hispanic, are disproportionally charged with charges for possessing or selling marijuana. If we are not careful, the money generated from weed sales could be used to further marginalize those groups. Education is the largest arbiter of socioeconomic justice. This new source of income should lift up all schools, not just the ones in "nice" neighborhoods. https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2018/04/12/sacrificing-our-schools-marijuana-money-isnt-pot-gold-voters-hoped/493649002/

Should Marijuana be treated like heroin or meth in terms of its addictiveness and harmfulness to society? In my opinion it should not, however, I do think that the normalization of any drug should not be taken lightly. The cultural acceptance of marijuana is negatively impacting our generation. Much like alcohol and tobacco, it is not being treated as a drug with potentially harmful effects. The normalization of marijuana has not furthered the debate to get the substance decriminalized, but instead gotten a new generation hooked on a substance that could harm their brains.

I really agree with this sentiment. All too often, people who have never struggled with depression are incredibly judgmental and close-minded when it comes to the topic of external validation. For many of them, especially those from an older generation, if someone has reached the top of their field or has had great success in whatever way they quantify it, then it is not possible for them to be depressed. Success (material or otherwise) does not mean that mental illness can't affect a person. Depression does not discriminate between age, gender, race, or sexuality.

I think music can be incredibly healing, and it is great that many artists have found redemption through it. I do, however, have a question. At what point is music condoning self-harm and or suicidal thoughts? Is it possible for music to normalize unhealthy thoughts and behavior for the people listening to the music, even if that is not what the songwriter/singer intended?

Demi's story really brings out the nature vs. nurture question. She was a child star. When she was as young as 10 years old, she was already being subjected to the toxic nature of showbiz. She was likely predisposed to mental illness, but how much of her suffering had to do with or was exacerbated by a toxic workplace environment? Did her jobs have anything to do with her mental illness? A doctor with the National Institutes of Mental Health asserted that "It is not a question of genes versus environment. It is a question of how genes interact with whatever the environmental factors might be." Additionally, a psychiatrist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center“It’s also important to know that even if you don’t inherit a gene for mental illness, you can still have a genetic cause. Genes can alter after birth and contribute to mental illness also. This is called a de novo genetic change.” All these caveats make answering a simple question, much less simple.

@Elaine Z There are certain SSRI's that can be prescribed, but some other medications that are given are called tricyclic antidepressants. These include desipramine and notriptyline. This type of antidepressant increases the amount of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and serotonin while simultaneously blocking a different neurotransmitter called acetylcholine.

I suspect my grandfather suffers from depression, but in many ways his Indian upbringing has prevented him from getting the help he needs. He grew up in a war zone which definitely is not good for anyone. He has never liked the idea of others caring for him in any way. His independence is the most important thing.

This is a difficult thing to grapple with on so many levels. On the one hand it seems cruel to make a person continue to live as their bodies slowly decay, but their minds stay agile or visa versa. However, depression is a completely different ballgame. Yes, dementia causes the degeneration of the mind, but depression itself is indicative of a chemical imbalance in the brain. I would argue that medically assisted suicide should not be an option for those who are depressed unless there are other underlying issues. It does not seem like an elderly person who is struggling with depression can make a rational decision.

One celebrity who comes to my mind is Carrie Fisher. For those who don't know, she played Princess Leia /General Leia in the Star Wars franchise. She struggled with bipolar disease which brings with it the lows of depression. This caused her to abuse many drugs including heroin and other opiates. She was open about her struggles beginning in the late 1970s, early 1980s, but she is only being praised for it now. I think that is evidence of a cultural shift.

These arguments are very logical, but highly immoral. Yes, these people are no longer a part of the workforce, but they likely spent their lives in it. I would argue that it would be better economically to take care of them. Men and women in their 40s and 50s would be more motivated to work if they know that they will be taken care of when they are older. Why would a worker put their all into a system that will not give them the same attention when they need it?

Aging and depression feed off of each other. One significant issue that can come with aging is a degenerative mental disorder like Alzheimer's. Cognitive impairment can lead a sufferer to be stuck in a prison of silence. They might not be able to articulate their sadness and pain, so the underlying problem continues to get worse. To make it even worse, many symptoms associated with Alzheimer's itself are also associated with depression. For example, irritability is common for both conditions.

Within the older generation, there is a misconception that being mentally ill is the same as being weak. For them, the depression or anxiety is a sign of personal failure, only exacerbating those conditions.

I can only speak from personal experience, but I can say with confidence that the reason why I am doing so well right now is because a friend of mine forced me to go to counseling. I was struggling with depression and my friend, although, thousands of miles way, knew how poorly I was feeling. As soon as I opened up to her she "Assessment Teamed" me. I was in so much pain that I could not even fathom reaching out for help by myself. At first I felt betrayed that someone had gone behind my back to report me to the health center. I was so angry, but then as I got better, with the formal diagnosis, the medication, and the counseling, I started to see the world clearly again. My perception widened and I was no longer at the precipice of disaster. My friend's forcible intervention saved my life. While I can't say whether this option would work for someone else, I can say that sometimes biting the bullet and doing something your loved one might resent you for in the present can actually do some good for their future selves.

I agree that the romanticization of mental health issues has gotten out of hand. A good example was the recent T.V. series on Netflix, 13 Reasons Why (I am only referring to the show, the book was actually quite good). The show-runners claimed that the whole reason for them writing the show was to spread mental health awareness. Instead, they framed a suicidal girl named Hannah in a way that reinforced the misconception that suicide is an act of selfishness. Additionally, Hannah was painted as beautiful and tragic instead of simply a girl who was struggling with mental health issues and happened to be beautiful and artistic. In the scene where Hannah actually committed suicide, there was graphic depiction of blood in a way that intrigued viewers instead of deterring them from the terrible act being committed. Even so, the producers and writers continue to claim that they want to spread a positive message. They are at best misguided, at worst, dangerous. https://www.self.com/story/13-reasons-why-season-two-mental-health-experts-commentary

Sometimes there are less obvious signs. One of them being a messy room or poor hygiene. While these things do not always indicate poor mental health, in tandem with any of the other things above can indicate a depressive disorder. Additionally, depression can cause insomnia, so teens suffering this disorder may appear "slow" due to lack of sleep.