Comparison between Tony Harrisons Long Distance and Jane Gardams Stone Trees free essay sample

The two documents we are presented with here both deal with the notion of bereavement and especially bereavement of a loved one. The first document is a poem, written by Tony Harrison in 1984 and entitled Long Distance. The second one is an extract from a short story entitled Stone Trees, written by Jane Gardam in 1983. They both intend to give us a glimpse of how different people react when confronted to the passing of a relative. Through two completely different approaches and using two different genre – poetry and fiction –, as well as different literary technics, they try to reflect the highly personal emotion that one feels when confronted to death. The poem entitled Long Distance is composed of 4 stanzas, in the three first stanzas, the poet’s persona tells us about his father’s denial to face the death of his mother with a tint of loving criticism. For example the fact that he still includes her into his daily routine as if she would come back anytime. In the last stanza of the poem though he – the poet’s persona – gives us his own impression on death and he seems to realise that he, too, cannot quite cut with the little things of everyday life. As for the extract from Jane Gardam’s Stone Trees, we follow a woman’s thoughts as she mourns her departed husband. She relates different moments she went through after his death and the story often looks as if she is directly addressing her husband. The link can be made here with the cultural notion â€Å"je de l’ecrivain et jeu de l’ecriture† as the two authors both seem to have found inspiration in personal experiences, and therefore those texts could be considered as autobiographical. We could wonder how Harrison and Gardam proceed into putting us as close as possible with their character’s feelings in order to provide the reader with an understanding of their experience. In order to answer that question we will firstly analyse the different devices used by the two authors in order to put us into their character’s minds. We will afterwards try to interpret the different visions of mourning we are presented within the two texts and more specifically emphasising the deeply personal and irrational aspect of this experience. * ** I. Placing the reader as close as possible to the character’s emotion There are various technics used in the two texts to give the reader access to the characters minds. We will present the narrative devices first and then we will introduce the technic of stream of consciousness used in Jane Gardam’s Stone Trees. a. Narrative devices The first thing that makes those two texts quite similar is the fact that they are both written in the first person narrative, giving straight away to the reader the impression that the story is told by someone who directly experienced the loss of a loved one. But this is not the only technic that gives us this impression, indeed the two texts are also homo-diegetic and they both use internal focalisation and even internal vocalisation in the case of Stone Trees. This allows us – the reader – to gain access to very personal feelings, sometimes unexpressed. An example in the poem Long Distance is when Tony Harrison’s persona admits that he, too, is acting in denial towards death, just as his father did (4th stanza, line 3-4). In Jane Gardam’s Stone Trees, the narrator confesses to â€Å"never having liked Tom that much† (line 10). These most likely unexpressed or at least unspoken feelings put you in a trusting relationship with the character and the persona. b. Stream of consciousness The stream of consciousness technic is clearly identifiable in Jane Gardam’s Stone Trees. Indeed there is no clear chronological pattern in the way the narrator tells her story, we receive her thoughts as they cross her mind. This explains the very frequent repetitions we can see in the text, for example on lines 8-10: â€Å"I liked it†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ I liked it†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ I liked his strong arm†. These repetitions combined with the non-chronological construction of the narrative, makes the text quite difficult to understand at first but once you get to know the character and try to get in tune with her feelings you start to see the bigger picture. This call for empathy automatically leads you to imagine what it is like for her to face the death of her husband. As we have seen there are several elements in the two texts that place the reader directly into the characters’ mind. The question we will try to answer in a second part is: Why did the authors wanted to do so? A clear answer that appears to us is that dealing with the death of a loved one is a highly personal and tragic experience and that there is not only one way of perceiving it. II. Bereavement of a loved one : a subjective experience a. Acceptance or Denial In Tony Harrison’s Long Distance the persona presents us how his father is in complete denial towards the death of his wife. He just keeps going with the daily routine of the couple. As well as being explicit in the poem it is also symbolised by the rhyming structure of the first three stanzas (alternate rhymes: ABAB). This changes to enclosed rhymes (ABBA) in the last stanza as the persona gives his personal view on the matter stating that â€Å"life ends with death† (4th stanza, line 1) and in a way marks the end of this routine: â€Å"You haven’t both gone shopping† (4th stanza, line 2). Nevertheless in the last 2 lines of the poem the poet’s persona seems to develop the same habits as his father when he is himself confronted to grief by writing the name of the lost one in his â€Å"new black leather phone book† (4th stanza, line 3) and by dialling this very phone number still (4th stanza, line 4). The poet’s intention could be to show that you cannot anticipate the way you will react to the death of a loved one until you are actually facing it. In Jane Gardam’s Stone Trees the woman confronted to the death of her husband seems to be in the process of accepting it. This could be illustrated by the repetition of the sentence â€Å"So now that you are dead† (lines 1, 5, 15, 16, 28, 45, 58), as if she regularly tries to bring her thoughts back to the tough reality and face the fact that he will not return and that things will never be the same now. It might be necessary to clarify that when using the term â€Å"acceptance† here we simply suggest that she acknowledges the death of her husband and not that her pain goes away. This idea can also lean on the prominent role of pronouns in the text. Indeed the narrator progressively replaces the pronoun â€Å"we† (â€Å"we had no children†: line 13) by â€Å"you/I† (line 21, 30) as if she’s getting her head around the fact that this â€Å"we† is now obsolete and therefore clearly marks the division of â€Å"you† and â€Å"I†. b. A traumatic irrational experience The two texts also stress how traumatic the experience of losing a loved one is; we could even say â€Å"the† loved one for the narrator of Stone Trees and the father of the poet’s persona in Long Distance as we cannot be sure for the persona himself. We can see that the narrator in Stone Trees is deeply affected by the death of her husband, hence the chaotic structure of the text following no chronological order, mixing old memories and recent events. The tone is resolutely desperate here. She seems to be unable to think straight and the way she relates the events is quite vague, quite blurry; she focuses on small details during the funeral: the cards accompanying the flowers (line 49-50, 54). In Long Distance the father’s actions are completely irrational though he, too, seems to be conscious of it: â€Å"He couldn’t risk my blight of disbelief† (3rd stanza, line 1), â€Å"As though his still raw love were such a crime† (2nd stanza, line 4). And more surprisingly the persona himself gives way to this irrational behaviour in the end. Another print of irrationality in both text could be the attempt to get in touch with the departed one. In Stone Trees the narrator directly addresses her husband, sharing her thoughts with him as if awaiting for an answer. In Long Distance the poet’s persona dials the â€Å"disconnected number† of the person he is grieving for in a desperate attempt to reach him/her. * ** To conclude we can say that these two documents, by their inherent differences in terms of genre – a poem and a fiction – and the way they describe distinct experiences of bereavement, perfectly carry the idea that the world’s perception is resolutely subjective and that certain moments in life can be lived in different ways depending on the individual’s eye. They also give really good examples of technics and literary devices used to put us as close as possible to the characters’ emotions and give us access to a part of their psyche.

Period of The Zygote free essay sample

The period of the zygote begins at fertilization. After a female egg is fertilized, the resulting one celled organism becomes known as a zygote. Once the egg is fertilized, the zygote begins a two-week period of rapid cell division and will eventually become an embryo. The zygote divides through a process known as mitosis, in which each cell doubles by dividing into two cells. This two-week stage is known as the germinal period of development and covers the time of conception to implantation of the embryo in the uterus. In most cases, each male and female sex cell contains 23 chromosomes. When these two haploid cells join, they form a single diploid cell that contains a total of 46 chromosomes. The zygote begins a journey down the fallopian tube to the uterus where it must implant in the lining in order to obtain the nourishment it needs to grow and survive. The period of the zygote lasts for about four days. We will write a custom essay sample on Period of The Zygote or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Around the fifth day, 60 to 70 cells exist that form a hollow, fluid filled ball called a blastocyst. The embryonic disk will become the new organism; the outer ring will provide protective covering. Implantation occurs sometime between the seventh and ninth day which the blastocyst burrows deep into the lining of the uterus. The amnion is a membrane that encloses the developing organism in amniotic fluid. The fluid functions as a cushion and temperature regulator. The yolk sac produces blood cells until the liver, spleen, and bone marrow mature enough to take over this function. The chorion, a protective membrane develops around the amnion by the end of the second week. The placenta is a special organ that permits food and oxygen to reach the zygote and waste products to be carried away. The umbilical cord connects the placenta to the developing organism. The period of the embryo lasts from implantation through the eighth week of pregnancy. The most rapid prenatal changes take place during these six weeks as the groundwork for all body structures and internal organs is begun. During the third week, the embryonic disk folds over to form three cell layers: 1.) Ectoderm- becomes the nervous system and skin. 2.) Mesoderm- from which will develop muscles, skeleton, cardiovascular system, and reproductive system. 3.) Endoderm- becomes the digestive system, lungs, urinary tract, and glands. The nervous system develops fastest in the beginning. The neural tube is a primitive spinal cord that forms when the ectoderm folds over. The embryo’s posture becomes more upright. The embryo can move, and it responds to touch, especially in the mouth area and on the soles of the feet. The period of the fetus is the â€Å"growth and finishing† phase that lasts until the end of pregnancy. The third month the organs, muscles, and nervous system organize and connect. By the twelfth week, the external genitals are well-formed, and the sex of the fetus can be determined using ultrasound. Trimesters are three equal time periods in prenatal period, each of which lasts three months. By the middle of the second trimester (which lasts from 13 to 24 weeks), the fetus has grown large enough that the mother cam feel its movements. Vernix is a white cheese like substance that covers the fetus and protects its skin from becoming chapped in the amniotic fluid. Lanugo is a white downy hair that also covers the fetus and helps vernix stick to the skin. At the end of the second trimester all the brain’s neurons have been produced. The fetus can now be both stimulated and irritated by sounds and light. The third trimester is the age of viability, between 22 and 26 weeks, is the age at which the fetus can first survive if born early. The brain continues to make great strides during the last three months. The cerebral cortex enlarges and the fetus spends more time awake. The fetus is also more responsive to external stimulation. The fetus moves less often, because of reduced space and greater ability to inhibit behavior. A layer of fat develops under the skin to assist with temperature regulation. In the last weeks, most fetuses move into an upside-down position.

This is the History of the Drumset essays

This is the History of the Drumset essays In the beginning of this powerful instrument's creation, drums were used for forceful supernatural summons and the master control of ceremonies all over the world. Drums were beat to keep a steady stroke on water for smooth even sailing. Drums were beat to keep soldiers in line at an even pace. The modern drum set was not invented by just one individual. It wasnt even invented at one time or one certain place. It has shown most of its becoming in the early part of the 20th century, with the help of other musicians that have contributed for the making of this instrument. Many places, particularly New Orleans, were adapting the drums of the traditional military-style marching band to the stage. A snare drum and base drum were beginning to be played by one person at the same time, when usually on drum was played by one person, such as the cymbals, base and snare. At the same time, New Orleans musicians were developing a new style of playing where they would improvise, later to be known as jazz. In 1909, William F. Ludwig, musician and instrument maker produced the first base drum foot pedal. He spent years adjusting the pedal so it could be played faster and swifter with the foot, freeing the players hand to pay more attention to the snare drum and other instruments. Drummers started adding instrument around their set, such as woodblocks, Chinese cymbals, cowbells, little tom toms, Chinese tom toms, whistles, sirens and even birdcalls. These sounds added were mainly used in theatrical performance and circuses. These were commonly known as traps, a term generally derived from contraption. In 1925 drummers began adding sock cymbals or low boys which were a pair of low standing cymbals on a spring operated by the foot. In addition to low boys, high boys came out in 1927. This was the high hat where you may play with your foot or you hands, and also is th ...

Effective Supervision Can Minimize Staff Turnover from Burn-Out in Thesis

Effective Supervision Can Minimize Staff Turnover from Burn-Out in Direct Care Staff in Adolescent Residential Settings - Thesis Example Contemporary studies are now offering new insights regarding turnover problem with regards to direct care workers. Most of the studies which can be found can give data taken from interviews with employees and employers, in a study that I have found, the author looked at the problem from a bigger perspective. In the study conducted by Brannon (2002), he examined factors that looked at health facilities with very high and very low direct care worker turnover rates from a middle referent group. From there, he explored the possibility that high turnover and low turnover are distinct occurrences having different originators. The findings in the study suggest that researchers must avoid using a linear function of a single set of predictor model when looking at facility turnover. The study revealed that a relationship between supervisory staff and the home health aide is a significant contributor to worker satisfaction and turnover. In another study which focused on direct care worker-supervisory relationships in the context of hierarchy, it was found out that supervisory staff often blame the cause of recruitment and retention problems to the worker’s personal problems, dysfunctional family structure, and lack of respect for the job (Bowers 2003). It is rarely recognized by supervisors that organizational structure, or mistreatment or poor management by higher employees as a reason for turnover. Most of these top level staff often complain about the long hours of work they spend on paperwork which according to them causes less communication and contact with residents and direct care workers (Bowers 2003). Another study conducted by the California Association of Homes and Services for the Adolescents found unswerving complaints from direct care staff that they feel that they themselves and the work that they do are not given due importance. Using in-depth interviews, it was known that many of the reasons previously

Financial Reporting Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Financial Reporting - Coursework Example Due to this increase in performance of the financial statements of the company, the earnings per share increased as well as the dividend payout ratios went up with a coverage of 2.8 times for the full year, which is the shareholder’s interest in the organization. As compared with the market ratios from IHG company, Next company shown a growth in all its financial aspects. The accounts have been presented in accordance with the IFRS 7 and 12 which requires disclosure of interest in other parties IFRS 10 which requires consolidating the group accounts and IAS 1 to 9 which talks of all the disclosures. The disclosures of the segments are contained in IAS 14 but superseded by IFRS 8 which requires every segment to be disclosed separately (Weygandt 2012). Since the exceptional items are material in nature, the materiality concept applies and that is the reason why they are disclosed separately since they are matters which might have an impact on the financial statements. They are d ivided into continued and discontinued exceptional items. Ratio Analysis: Liquidity Ratios This is a ratio that measures the firm’s ability to meet its obligations financially. Historically these ratios have been used to measure the overall health of organizations. Their usefulness is being diluted as the modern companies Next PLC are holding fewer current assets to generate revenue. However, these ratios remain a good measure in this industry because the hotel industry relies on huge amounts of current assets to generate income. The meaning of these ratios is measured based on the relevant industry norms (Clatworthy 2005). Current Ratio Current Ratio = Total Current Assets Total Current Liabilities Account 2013 2012 Increase/Decrease Total Current Assets 1,207.8 1,139.9 Total Current Liabilities 816.0 742.4 Current Ratio 1.48 1.53 -0.05 From the above analysis, Next PLC is a company which can meet its short term obligations in both year 2013 and year 2012, however at a close r look, it shows that it has decreased its ability to meet these short term obligations in the year 2013 which is a fall back from the previous period. A further identification is that the group has disposed a lot of its current assets and also paid more of its obligations in terms of liabilities. In further analyzing the cash position of the group in the cash flow statement, the group has covered more of its expenses on the revolving cash flows from operations, which is a healthy indication of the organization's ability to operate in the foreseeable future (Gibson 2012). Quick Ratio Quick Ratio = Cash and Equivalents - Inventory Total Current Liabilities Account 2013 2012 Total Current Assets 1,207.8 1,139.9 Inventory 331.8 371.9 Total 876 768 Total Current Liabilities 816.0 742.4 Current Ratio 1.072 1.034 This ratio is more accurate than the current ratio since it reveals how the company can meet its short term liabilities without having to dispose its stock. And in this case of s tudy, the company still remains stable and even better since the stock levels are low and that means the company can meet its short term financial obligations with ease. In year 2013, it indicates that the company did better than year 2012 just like the previous ratio. Any ratio that is positive means that the company can meet its obligations and any figure that is negative means that th

Pulmonary Edema Lungs

Pulmonary Edema Lungs Outline of pulmonary edema: Pulmonary edema is the inflammation of the lungs that occurs due to the excessive accumulation of fluids in the lungs (alveoli) which results in poor exchange of gases which can cause dyspnea and finally respiratory and cardiac failure. Symptoms: The common symptoms of pulmonary edema include Dyspnea i.e. difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, noisy and labored respirations rales, blood in cough, restlessness, anxiety, palor (paleness of skin). Diagnosis: It can be diagnosed by physical examination and knowing the patients medical history. By checking the wheezing sounds that are whistling or musical sound that can be heard without a stethoscope and inspiratory crackling sound that can be heard at the end of deep breath with the help of stethoscope and the characteristic third sound of the heart which can be seen in the cases of cardiogenic pulmonary edema patients. Apart from those general blood tests like liver enzymes, electrolytes, complete blood count etc. is done than a final confirmation is made by the X-ray of the lungs. Pulmonary Edema is a disease that affects the heart finally and begins in the lungs. Due to the inadequate pumping of the left ventricle, fluid accumulates in the spaces outside the blood vessels in the tissues of the lungs. It leads to a complication of heart disorders, sometimes acting as the first sign of coronary heart disease, and most commonly associated with congestive heart failure. It can be chronic or develop suddenly and quickly become life threatening. As large amounts of fluid suddenly shift from the pulmonary blood vessels to the lungs then pulmonary edema becomes life-threatening. When the heart begins to fail, the veins going through the lungs build up pressure and in turn the lungs pressure begins to rise which results in the building up of fluid being pushed into the alveoli. This fluid interrupts our normal oxygen flow through the lungs. Results and symptoms of pulmonary edema: Pulmonary edema occurs due to excessive accumulation of fluids and foam into the alveoli of the lungs when the pulmonary blood vessels are engorged. It can often be associated with congestive heart failure. It begins primarily with the building up of fluids in the microscopic alveoli of the lungs causing poor respiratory exchange resulting in Dyspnea with noisy and labored respirations. Rales which are powdery or gravelly sounds can be heard with stethoscope and some patients even cough up blood-tinged sputum. It occurs when the heart becomes damaged or weakened; as a result unable to pump blood to all the parts of the body, typically beginning with the left heart failure as a consequence of the damaged left ventricle which leads to backing up of the blood first in the pulmonary vessels and finally in systemic vessels. As a consequence blood fluids are forced into the body tissues due to increased pressure in the vessels causing a swelling known as edema. If it occurs in the alveoli of the lungs it is termed as pulmonary edema. Finally it can lead to congestive heart failure. Shortness of breath; Difficulty in breathing: Diseases like pulmonary edema leads to shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing which is known as Dyspnea which occurs due to poor respiratory exchange in the lungs. It causes labored and noisy respirations often associated with powdery or gravely sounds known as rales when checked with the stethoscope. Dyspnea is not a primary illness but a condition brought about by a number of medical, traumatic and environmental causes. It can be related to Lung diseases, heart conditions, allergic reactions, CO poisoning, etc. In most cases it occurs when a disease has caused some kind of direct interference with either the flow of air into and out of the lungs or with the exchange of gases within the lungs. In typical dyspnea, as in the case of asthma the problem causing interference originates in the lungs itself. Dyspnea can be classified into acute dyspnea with sudden onset can be caused by anaphylactic shock, cardiac arrhythmias trauma, etc. and chronic dyspnea which can be caused by Asthma, Bronchitis, COPD, Neuromuscular disorders, etc. Air hunger or feeling of drowning, Grunting of gurgling sounds with breathing, Wheezing As a sign of congestive heart failure the patient would wish to remain in a seated or semi-reclined position which allows less labored respiration. The patient should be kept calm to conserve body heat. These oxygen hungry patients will accept oxygen therapy without difficulty. In severe lung diseases like an Asthma attack, the small bronchioles becomes narrower due to the contraction of the smooth muscles that make up the airway apart from the overproduction of thick mucus leading to the restriction of airflow. The airflow is restricted in mainly in one direction such as, during inhalation, the expansion of lungs exerts an outward force resulting in the increase in the diameter of the airway, allowing air to flow into the lungs. During exhalation the opposite occurs resulting in the trapping of the stale air into the lungs which requires forceful exhalation of air by the patient, producing the characteristic wheezing sound associated with asthma. Wheezing sounds are whistling or musical sounds that can be heard without a stethoscope. Gurgling is caused often due to a foreign object, or blood and other fluids in the trachea. It is believed that cardiac murmurs are associated with the possibility of heart failure which is not correct as in about 50 % of the heart failure cases there is no murmur observed. Still a cardiologist should take note seriously if any murmur is present in the patient. In the diagnosis of heart failure Gallop rhythm (one can imagine the sounds of hooves of horse smoothly running at full speed) is very typical and significant. SOB with lying down, you may need to sleep with you head propped: The affects of the body position of a person sometimes gives an idea about the underlying disorder causing dyspnea. For example in platypnea, that is dyspnea while sitting gives indications of a liver disease. The worse type of Dyspnea is when the patient is lying down and suffering from shortness of breath, which is associated with heart disease or paralysis of the diaphragm. It is called as orthopnea. Another type of dyspnea is PND (Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea) which occurs during sleep forcing the patient to wake up gasping for breath; usually relieving the patient if he / she sit up or stands. It may indicate the dysfunctioning of the left ventricle of the heart, narrowing of the mitral valve or hypertension. If a patient is suffering from orthopnea he sleeps with the head propped up. Cough: It is an annoying symptom which can occur as a result of many causes such as pulmonary edema, tuberculosis, Bronchitis, Asthma, etc. Anxiety: Factors like excessive worry, nervousness, instability, nausea, etc. are the major symptoms of anxiety. Restlessness: It can be caused by a number of factors such as anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, hyperactivity, etc. Excessive sweating: Sweating is due to the presence of sweat glands under our skin, which is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system of our body and whenever our body temperature rises sweating is stimulated. Thus, it controls the body temperature. Emotional stress also stimulates sweating. Palor or pale coloration or cyanosis of the parts will also take place during any respiratory or cardiac attack. Sympathetic over stimulation leads to symptoms like palor, sweating, and tachycardia during heart failure. Additional symptoms with progression of the disease: Nasal flaring: It is an indication of breathing difficulty caused by the enlargement of the nostril opening during breathing; as a result the total airway resistance is reduced. Inability to speak: The patient may not be able to speak due to pulmonary obstruction or cardiac failure. Decrease in levels of awareness: the level of awareness or consciousness of the patient will also go down during any respiratory or cardiac attack.

Young People Question their Antidepressants :: Psychology Pharmacy Papers

Young People Question their Antidepressants Like many eager freshmen this year, Amy* made Northeastern University her home with a burst of optimism and the excitement of a fresh start in a strange, new place. But just over a year ago, while a high school senior, she almost lost her chance for the college experience—her grades plummeted with her as she fell deeper into depressive episodes, putting her life and her academic future in jeopardy. The scars she etched in her body tell of her battles with depression, a painful mental disease she dealt with in secrecy for four years before finally seeking help. After years of self-mutilation and uncontrollable sadness, the 18-year-old music industry major started taking antidepressants, the controversial wonder-drugs she attributes her current happiness to. â€Å"I can handle my life much easier now,† she said. â€Å"I would not be able to function without them.† But while Amy embraces her prescription to Zoloft, Northeastern freshman music industry major Erin* plans to drop hers. The very medicine that helped Amy work her way to happiness has left 17-year-old Erin confused and wary of her treatments. Rather than freeing her from the hopelessness of depression, the antidepressant drugs left her apathetic and numb—and when her current prescription runs out, she won’t be refilling it. Antidepressant use in children and adolescents has surged in recent years, with 11 million prescriptions written in 2002 alone, a number that has tripled since the early 1990s. But the practice of prescribing the drugs to young people has attracted a cloud of controversy, with lackluster testing of the medicines and recent revelations that the drugs can lead to increased suicidality—the suicidal thoughts and actions that accompany depression. Still, demand is high and the rate of depression in young people is substantial. The Center for Mental Health Services, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, found in a 1999 study that 6.5% of people aged 18-24 have major depression, yet fewer than 25% of those diagnosed will seek professional treatment—those who do will likely end up on antidepressants. While much about the treatment of depression remains a mystery, information about the illness in children and adolescents is even cloudier. Carol Glod, a local expert on depression and associate professor at the Bouve College of Nursing at Northeastern University, says the only solution is to conduct more research. â€Å"You have to do something for the person that has depression and, without the research, we don’t know what works,† she says. Young People Question their Antidepressants :: Psychology Pharmacy Papers Young People Question their Antidepressants Like many eager freshmen this year, Amy* made Northeastern University her home with a burst of optimism and the excitement of a fresh start in a strange, new place. But just over a year ago, while a high school senior, she almost lost her chance for the college experience—her grades plummeted with her as she fell deeper into depressive episodes, putting her life and her academic future in jeopardy. The scars she etched in her body tell of her battles with depression, a painful mental disease she dealt with in secrecy for four years before finally seeking help. After years of self-mutilation and uncontrollable sadness, the 18-year-old music industry major started taking antidepressants, the controversial wonder-drugs she attributes her current happiness to. â€Å"I can handle my life much easier now,† she said. â€Å"I would not be able to function without them.† But while Amy embraces her prescription to Zoloft, Northeastern freshman music industry major Erin* plans to drop hers. The very medicine that helped Amy work her way to happiness has left 17-year-old Erin confused and wary of her treatments. Rather than freeing her from the hopelessness of depression, the antidepressant drugs left her apathetic and numb—and when her current prescription runs out, she won’t be refilling it. Antidepressant use in children and adolescents has surged in recent years, with 11 million prescriptions written in 2002 alone, a number that has tripled since the early 1990s. But the practice of prescribing the drugs to young people has attracted a cloud of controversy, with lackluster testing of the medicines and recent revelations that the drugs can lead to increased suicidality—the suicidal thoughts and actions that accompany depression. Still, demand is high and the rate of depression in young people is substantial. The Center for Mental Health Services, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, found in a 1999 study that 6.5% of people aged 18-24 have major depression, yet fewer than 25% of those diagnosed will seek professional treatment—those who do will likely end up on antidepressants. While much about the treatment of depression remains a mystery, information about the illness in children and adolescents is even cloudier. Carol Glod, a local expert on depression and associate professor at the Bouve College of Nursing at Northeastern University, says the only solution is to conduct more research. â€Å"You have to do something for the person that has depression and, without the research, we don’t know what works,† she says.