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Depression is Dangerous for Young and Old Individuals

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Elderly adults represent a considerable section of the general population. However, this he portion of elderly people is projected to increase with time. The mental health issues of elderly individuals are significant during therapy, support stages, as well as policy issues. The high incidence of suicide among the elderly is attributed to increased severe cases of depression. During old age, depression is one of the mental health complications that often presents itself and is often comorbid with other psychiatric and physical diseases usually due to stress resulting from this condition. In elderly adults, depression often presents itself as impairments that are usually linked with aging like psychomotor speed and memory. However, evidence from research has shown that higher levels of exercise have the potential to reduce the chances of developing depression among elderly adults even if other factors such as the body mass index, chronic conditions, as well as social associations are taken into consideration. Moreover, behavioral rehabilitation and prescriptions of antidepressants that can be tolerated by elderly adults can be employed in the management of depression.

The Prevalence of Depression among the Elderly

Depression represents a variety of social and biological factors, and it is often relatively hard to diagnose among elderly patients because its manifestation may vary from the symptoms of depression witnessed in younger adults. Elderly people usually under-report or ignore their depression symptoms and could fail to recognize whether they are sad, depressed, or down. This is mostly attributed to advanced age, lack of comprehension, and shame of being associated with the disorder or a perception that such conditions ought not to be discussed in public. In most cases, common signs or symptoms associated with depression among elderly patients like lack of enjoyment common activities, absence of interest in living, lack of concentration, unexplained chronic pain, or impaired memory are often erroneously associated with old age, poor health conditions, as well as dementia. In most cases, physicians, friends, and family usually interpret such symptoms in a similar manner; as a result depression during advanced age often goes on for a long time before diagnosed.

The world health organization holds that the factors escalating the risk of depression among elderly patients include chronic diseases, poverty, adverse life events, going through a divorce, bereavement, disability, pain, genetic susceptibility, as well frustrations emanating from the limitation of daily living. Moreover, depression is also caused by personality traits, social isolation, separation, as well as the absence of adequate social support. Most surveys have illustrated that there is an association between depression and several socioeconomic factors such as poverty, advanced age, manual occupational jobs, and the level of education.

The prevalence of depression, which is a condition that has been observed to cause complications in life that have an adverse effect on daily activities tends to vary in relation to the methodology used with the figures estimated at 7.2% to 49%. In general, the prevalence of depression in Turkey varies from 35% to 65% in diverse studies conducted using different research designs. Moreover, the world health organization estimates that the prevalence of depression among elderly adults ranges from 10% to 20% globally, but these figures are dependent on the existing cultural situation. Community-based mental health surveys have shown that the prevalence of depressive complications in India among elderly patients tends to vary from 13% to 25%. Even though India is the second largest country in terms of its population, the number of people above the age of 60 suffering from depression is very small that it is not considered a health challenge in the country.

In various systemic reviews conducted to assess the prevalence of depression in France, Spain, USA, Italy, and the United Kingdom residing in private households, it was observed that 14% of the French, 25% of the Spanish, and 17% of the British, 5% to 36% in the USA, as well as 30% to 49% of the Italian population, was suffering from the condition. This indicates that depression is a health complication that transcends borders and affects a wide number of people. Since the projections indicate that the number of elderly individuals will rise by a considerable amount in the near future, there is the need to conduct more research to understand the manifestation of depression among the elderly so that it can be detected and treated early.

As more adults approach the age of 60 years, they begin to suffer from aging complications such as depression. However, the depression manifested in elderly people presents its self in ways that are associated with other aging complication, and hence it is very difficult to diagnose early enough. As the number of elderly individuals is projected to rise drastically in the near future, there is the need to conduct more research on the signs and symptoms of depression in older people so that such cases can be identified early and the appropriate therapy administered. Depression often leads to suicidal tendencies. Therefore, it is critical to understand the complication so as to enhance the development of elderly individuals and improve their quality of life.

 

News

Guns or Roses? The Statistics of Concealed Carry Incidents in US

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Guns – they are there to protect you. However, in the wrong hands, they can be deadly. And we obviously mean that as literally as possible. The news is packed with school shootings, street gun fights, terrorist attacks – it makes you paranoid even if you see a shady person fidgeting with a pocket.

Now, some would day that guns are good things: if every sane person had them, they would prevent the lunatics from committing mass murder. They would be the rose that protects the masses.

Still, are all those people good guys? Indeed, they might have a license to carry a concealed weapon in public – and they likely won’t end up thrown in jail if a cop found them carrying the gun. If they have a license, they are harmless and responsible. Or are they?

The Attempt to Prevent Shootings

In 2007, it was fairly easy to get a gun permit. Anyone who was over 21 years of age and was otherwise not prohibited from holding a handgun (for example, a felon or someone that was deemed mentally incompetent) could have a gun permit. Your average next door neighbor Joe could have a gun in his pocket and you’d have no idea.

In 2016, however, Barack Obama took it upon himself to decrease the risks of mass shooting and violence. He took executive action that every gun holder should go through extensive background checks, as well as psych evaluation. If they even had a shadow of doubt that there was something wrong with the person’s composure, then they would not receive the right for a license.

So, why did he do that? It’s fairly logical, if you really think about it. Statistics show that in 2016, the United States had nearly 300 million guns – which means one gun for practically every citizen of the population.

These guns can be used in two ways: for offense, and defense. What raised the question of security, however, was the fact that in only a year, countless gunfire casualties occurred. Thousands of people were injured – and thousands lost their lives because of it.

The Gunfire Statistics

Casualties caused by gunfire and concealed arms were fairly widespread in 2015. There were a total of 372 mass shootings that year – in which 475 people were killed and another 1,870 were injured. Mass shootings are incidents in which four or more people are injured or killed during a single shooting – including the shooter.

The situation looks rather gruesome when it comes to school shootings as well – and they are getting worse over the years. In 2015, there were a total of 64 school shootings – which is a small number compared to the 346 school shootings that happened in 2017. The statistics of how many of them have a permit have not yet been revealed. However, considering that most of these shootings occurred in college, it s likely that they owned a permit for these guns.

Over the years, there were also many other mass shootings involved. In 2017, an incident at the Hollywood International Airport led to the death of 5 people and the injury if 5 others. The gun holder, Esteban Santiago, had a permit for concealed carrying – which is why no one initially questioned him about the fact that he was carrying a gun. Esteban was, in fact, a killer with a permit to shoot.

The Dangers of Concealed Gun Carrying

Let’s say that the gun is in possession of a mentally-balanced person that would only use the gun for self-defense or for the protection of another individual. That is generally the case when it comes to these gun holders – and in most cases, the civilians are safe.

However, accidents can sometimes happen. Just like people can lose their bags, IDs, or things, they can lose their gun. These guns can end up in the hands of criminals or mentally-deranged people – causing even more casualties. The original intentions for carrying the gun may have been god – but the results may end up being disastrous.

When people start carrying guns around with them, things will eventually get heated. If there were no guns around, things could have easily been thwarted. But nowadays, even a relatively sane person can have a breakdown and hold up a gun. If they don’t shoot the people around, they will be shooting themselves with it. About half the suicides in US are committed by concealed handguns.

Final Thoughts

Concealed handguns may seem like a good way to protect yourself – but the ease with which they are given is certainly concerning. The psychological tests are more thorough now – but people are also smarter.

Plus, since those permits last for a very long time, you can’t know when something can go wrong. You can buy it simply for defense – and then use it for offense after you had a breakdown. They are literally roses: they make you feel better with their scent, but they can also prick you with their thorns.

Analytical Articles, News

Singapore’s high level of economic

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In the past years, there has been an increase in the economic growth and development of Asian continent economy. Consequently, there has been both a tremendous and steady expansion in the economies of not only Singapore but also Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. All the economic planners of the government regarding economic prosperity, more so in Central and Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa, and some areas of Asia, focus so much on the development ways used in the four Tigers mentioned, hoping to learn from their doings.

For Singapore to propel her economic development, she had invested close to S$ 1.9 billion from 1990 to 1996. The investment was made through the National Computer Board (NCB) which she formed to get improved training and knowledge of those in the industries linked to IT. Additionally, Singapore committed another S$ 3 billion starting from 1995 to 2001. The best technology centers were formed such as the National Singapore University, the school of Science Systems, and some tertiary institutions were responsible for the clustering of advanced technology facilities that spearheaded Singapore’s economic development. In the undertaking of this assignment, the discuss seeks to provide some of major the factors that have enabled Singapore to achieve a high level of economic development, and this form the thesis statement for this paper.

First, following the establishment of effective technological institutions, to achieve a high level of economic development, in the 1989s, Singapore increased her manufacturing and financial operations. Singapore operated as the primary financial midpoint and hub of the Asian economic cycle regarding the productions of goods. The Riau and Johor places offered the labor required force for the processes of manufacturing. The situation was great since most of the neighboring areas were still suffering from low wage assistants with fewer skills, and this was a problem that Singapore managed so well. In 1989, a strategy for the formation of a financial collaboration amidst Malaysia, Indonesia, including Singapore was first stated. The financial collaboration acted as a springboard that facilitated Singapore’s economic growth.

Second, the SIJORI initiative began just in the first 1991s, headed by the (EDB) Economic Development Board of Singapore. Its main people were from Riau area of Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. In this context, Singapore could profit from the local support since both provinces provided it with the most needed raw materials, workforce, and space. To keep Singapore good looking in the presence of new investors, EDB persisted in reviewing its tax incentive structure. The inventor condition was agreed upon in 1969, increasing the tax respite to a permanent year time. The tax reprieve attracted many investors to Singapore consequently enabling it to achieve high economic development.

As time passed, the scheme was as far as supporting Singapore’s’ small firms for manufacturing. Moreover, the scheme resulted in the creation of profits to institutions who offer services to the existing businesses. Besides working from side to side with the provision of tax collection, the government looked forward to providing other supporting institutions. The same law ruled over savings in places with no private skilled people. Many approved companies emerged in the transportation and economy sectors. The Companies took care of establishment of budgetary services and ongoing of substantial progress and non-physical procedure promoted economic growth in Singapore.

Third and finally, the law of Singapore noticed the condition of labor in the area, focused on offering a safe working environment that could bring new investors closer. With the help of Labor Act, issues between employers and the employee would be solved, and disagreements prevented. In 1971, National Trade Union Congress was formed by law as the only whole county labor combination to supervise wage issues and employment. The facilitation of the employment processes and wage issues fueled economic growth in Singapore.

News

Does it Take Three to Tango? Russia, China and US Relations

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Russia, China and US Relations

What does it mean “to tango?” Well, this metaphor can be seen in a good and a bad way. Technically speaking, the tango involves a variety of moves made by two partners. Sometimes, the moves may be in tandem – other times, they may be moving in the complete opposite direction.

Like when couples brawl, make up, fight again, someone sleeps on the couch, and then they get together again. This dance is tense – but at the same time, it makes you wonder: what will happen next?

The Political Tango

Since the first world wars, there were several tangos. Russia fought together with the Allies of World War I, making a team with the United States in their fight against Germany. In World War II, Russia once more fought alongside the United States – pushing back the Axis force.

During the Cold War, their tango started taking yet another direction. Russia and the United States were making different, opposite moves – this time, one against another. But this is also where the tango took a third “person” – namely, China.

At first, China danced with the United States – leaving Russia to watch their tandem dance. They were all in synch – until China started going through a civil revolution of their own. Russia started doing the “opposite” tango again with the United States.

A new republic was founded in China – and the country started to dance again. This time, however, it was Russia who stepped in. After China and Russia have formed an alliance, they were going after the United States with new forces. It was a “teasing” dance, where everyone showed off their moves – although there were also several “jumps” that made the war into a violent one.

The dance was long – and the moves were very complicated. The “dancers” became tired, and they decided that the dance should come to an end. This is when a summit was called to sign a truce. For now, the world should be at peace – at least, for a little while.

The Tango Continues 

Once more, these three powers show that the tango is not the same just with two “people” – and Russia, China, and the United States once more began  to dance. Russia had its presidential election in 2018, China had its 19th Party Congress, and Trump was beginning his second year as president.

This, obviously, paved the way for new relations between the nations. Vladimir Putin and Xi Jimping already had a close personal relationship – which means that they would dance in tandem at this point. They would do joint military exercises, energy agreements, and joint economic development to make both nations grow stronger.

Trump, on the other hand, started this tango again, in the opposite direction. The US saw Russia as a “rival force” – which is why the nation started working on its military power. It eventually became a dance of “my moves are much better than yours.”

At this point, you could say that the US moves make Russia and China dance much better together. The new trading taxes from China to the United States put China at an economical pressure – creating more common ground with Russia this way. The fact that US warships keep sailing through the South Sea of China doesn’t make things any easier.

At this point, however, Trump is at least trying to restore relations with Russia. When the two presidents met at Helsinki, they alluded to the possibility of an alliance. Talking about the past collaborations between the countries, they agreed that two nations with great military power should not be in conflict with each other – but in alliance with each other.

There are, however, people that believe this to be unlikely. During a discussion at Carnegie-Ttsinghua Center, several scholars discussed the future of the nations – as well as the future between them. They believed that Russia would always try to aim higher – with Putin mainly focusing on making Russia a leading power. While still trying to maintain a peaceful line, Russia and the United States are still in a rather tense relationship.

In the meantime, the relationship between China and Russia is getting stronger. While China may still fear the implication of an alliance, the fact that the United States is stepping on both their tails is actually pushing the two states closer and closer.

The Conclusion?

This is just as a tango should be: several moves in tandem, others in opposition. Each move is a consequent of the other – which will reach to the final dance. At this point, we can’t say for sure how their tango will end. China and Russia are in synch, and they are getting better. The United States is trying – but it still trips every now and again. What we do know is that every dancer is at least trying not to step too much on the other one’s toes.