The suspected suicide of actor and comedian Robin Williams is being linked, in part, to depression. Many Americans suffer from the condition. But, many also are trying to help people with depression. They are finding ways to bring attention to depression and ways to treat it.
For example, thousands of people take part in what are called Out of the Darkness Walks. The walkers remember loved ones they lost to suicide. They also hope to raise money for suicide prevention efforts and research into depression. Depression increases the risk of people taking their own lives.
Steve Iselin served in the Navy for 20 years. After his retirement, he began to look for another job. That is when he began feeling hopeless.
I had a great sense of dread every day. Agony is another word that comes to mind. I didnt want to do anything that I would normally like to do. I had no interest in seeing other people.
Depression makes people lose hope.
Steve Iselin found a job. But he left after one week because he told himself he could not do the work. Everything he did seemed very difficult. Decisions were painful, even having to choose what he would wear that day or what to eat. Mr. Iselin was suffering from depression.
Bob Gebbia heads the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He says being depressed is very different from being sad or having a bad day. He says that about 20 million people are found to have clinical depression in the United States every year.
Mr. Gebbia says the cause could be a combination of genetic influences, changes in brain chemistry or environmental reasons. He notes that some people are more likely than others to get depressed.
Lets say you lose your job, divorce, or, you know, a loss of someone.
After Robin Williams death, the American Foundation for the Prevention of Suicide released a statement.
The foundation said Mr. Williams: brought laughter into every life he touched; Robin also suffered from depression. It is our hope that we are able to have an open conversation that depression and addictions are real illnesses that can sometimes be fatal. Every 13 minutes someone dies from suicide, and it is among the top ten causes of death in the U.S.
The group said more needs to be done to prevent suicides. It called for greater attention to mental health issues, warning signs and effective forms of intervention and treatment.
Steve Iselin was lucky. His wife recognized the signs of depression. She helped him get the expert care he needed. But he says that was not true of his brothers son. Mr. Iselin says his nephew became depressed a few years later and killed himself.
A year after his nephews death, Mr. Iselin visited his brother in San Francisco and heard about the Out of the Darkness Walk. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention organized the event. Both men took part.
Steve Iselin said that was the first day his brother understood that perhaps he was not to blame for his sons death.
Since then, Steve Iselin has volunteered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, taking part in many community walks.
Im Christopher Cruise.
suicide n. the act of killing oneself
depression n. severe unhappiness; a period of reduced business and economic activity during which many people lose their jobs
prevent v. to keep or stop from going or happening; prevention - n. the act of keeping something from happening
laugh v. to make sounds to express pleasure or happy feelings; laughter - n. the act or the sound of laughing
intervene v. to come between; to come between in order to settle or solve; intervention - n.
词汇讲解：
1. remember vt. 记得; 牢记
例句：I dont remember his name.
我已经不记得他的名字。
2. raise vt.引起，抱起; 提高
例句：Dont raise your voice.
不要提高嗓门。
3. retirement n.退休，退职; 引退
例句：Retirement plans would be rebuilt.
退休计划会得到重建。
4. depression n.萎靡不振，沮丧
例句：Exercise can also help depression.
锻炼还能帮助缓解抑郁。
5. suicide n.自杀; 自杀者
例句：Have you ever attempted suicide before?
你曾经试图自杀过吗?
6. intervention n.介入，干涉
例句：He accepts the need for government intervention to deal with externality.
他承认需要政府的干涉，以处理外部因素。
7. blame vt.指责，责怪
例句：Politics is partly to blame.
政治因素负有部分责任。
短语讲解：
1. They are finding ways to bring attention to depression and ways to treat it.
bring attention to 引起注意
例句：There is one point I must bring to everybodys attention.
有一问题我要提请大家注意。
2. For example, thousands of people take part in what are called Out of the Darkness Walks.
take part in 参加，参与
例句：Take part in the physical exercises and build up your strength.
参加体育活动增强体力。
3. After his retirement, he began to look for another job.
look for 寻找
例句：He pretends to look for a book.
他假装在找一本书。
4. I had a great sense of dread every day. Agony is another word that comes to mind.
come to mind 想起来了
例句：School playgrounds come to mind.
这让你想起了学校的竞技场。
5. Mr. Iselin was suffering from depression.
suffer from 患，受折磨
例句：You may suffer from psychological depression.
你可能会遭受心理抑郁。
6. He says being depressed is very different from being sad or having a bad day.
be different from 与不同; 不同于
例句：May your destiny be different from her.
希望你的命运和她不同。
7. It is our hope that we are able to have an open conversation that depression and addictions are real illnesses that can sometimes be fatal.
be able to 能，会; 能够
例句：How soon will china be able to clean up its air?
中国能在多短时间内将空气变清洁?
8. A year after his nephews death, Mr. Iselin visited his brother in San Francisco and heard about the Out of the Darkness Walk.
hear about 得悉，听说
例句：I was sorry to hear about your illness.
听说你病了，我很难过。
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