I guess it's not surprising that those who spend their days helping the elderly and sick find themselves depressed. I honestly don't think I could handle that type of interaction day in and day out.

It is now an epidemic. Meds help, if people seek help...

I think it's called "life".

It doesn't take too long to realize that "life" is sad. I've been a care-giver for going on 15 yrs. and to see the things that people endure as the body declines is beyond depressing. But someone has to do it because it's the right-thing-to-do and it's important to set examples for our children. No one comes out naturally self-less.

Regarding the service jobs, as my father would say: That's why it's called 'work'. Blessed is the person who actually loves and makes a living with his job.

Thank you for this clip, I totally relate! And thank you for clipmarks, it's one of the tools I use to de-stress!

POPs jatfla--
And also,
If we as people are having problems seeing the positive and enjoyable sides of anything, it is due to our culture, what is "fun", what is meaningful; and the way we repeatedly "miss it" in bringing up the next generation.
Why any of this is depressing is that we've put that meaning to it. Medication is more of a problem than an answer. Except in solid case of chemical imbalance or for very temporary use.And when there is sadness,dive into that. Experience it,feel its richness and then be open to its opposite. It can then come.
So we see this report and assign ANOTHER layer of sadness to/about these results? Maybe they'll add that on to an update study. And so on. Mirror in a mirror. Get it?

"Medication is more of a problem than an answer." Yes I agree, davboz.

The times I had antidepressant medication prescribed for me, it made me feel like I was in a cloud. After a while I knew I couldn't deal with the problem causing the depression until I quit taking the medication. I hurt a lot, but I couldn't stand walking through every day in a cloud and not feeling anything.

Thanks egoldstein for clipping.