Life is Beautiful

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When I started this profession, my editor-in-chief told me that we did not report the suicides that occurred in Alicante because these reports caused other people to commit suicide. It was an editorial rule of the company. Undoubtedly, there is a grain of truth in this, because there is also the fact that information about mass murders such as what is happening in Uvalde (Texas) these days invites others to come forward and make headlines through the same system. Almost half a century later, I realize that even in such dire situations – even with self-censorship in the publication of images – freedom of information is not limited, and of course, on the anniversary of my work, ¡How? living is nice! or “Life is beautiful” in the European version.

According to official US death data in 2020, there were more than 19,000 firearm homicides, 24,000 firearm suicides, and more than 500 firearm accidental deaths; and nearly 600 murders by law enforcement. Frequent gunfire and massacres in the United States result from an exorbitant number of guns (about 400 million in the hands of individuals; more than residents) and bad laws governing access to them, this is the main difference from other wealthy countries. . There are no significant differences in crimes, including assault and robbery; In Spain, too, suicides are about 8 per hundred thousand people. The United States is only exceptional when it comes to gun violence, so much so that one FBI report speaks of “lone actors” who are “the biggest risk of domestic violent extremism,” as one FBI report calls the danger “domestic terrorism” in its own words. and in the right’s capacity to boycott a majority of the Senate by “void,” the rule requiring 60 out of a hundred senators to approve the end of deliberations before voting on any proposal. Support from pressure groups – the National Rifle Association and gun manufacturers are the main lobbies – is key for Republicans to prevent changes to these bad laws and limit access to guns, especially assault and firearms.

Recently, a psychologist friend of mine drew attention to the frequent cases of adolescents with depression and suicidality in Spain. In the United States, 76 percent of teachers have expressed concern about depression, anxiety, and trauma in students since the start of the pandemic, and in some areas they have implemented a social emotional learning program (SAT). They call it “the ultimate child brainwashing scheme”, although some conservative groups try to stop it “as a tool for critical race theory.”

The CDC, the official US agency for Disease Control and Prevention, warns that adolescents’ mental health is in sharp decline. Children’s mental health worsening but prior to the pandemic, according to authors Heather Turgeon and Julie Wright of”“The sleepless generation” quoted by the Washington Post points out that teenagers sleep 5 to 6 and a half hours a night when they need nine hours in optimal conditions. Only about 15% of high school students do this. “The proliferation of smartphones has been a wrecking ball for teens’ dreams,” “Some of the worst dream stealers are Meta, YouTube, TikTok, Apple, and other companies that specialize in creating addictive technologies that infiltrate teens’ lives. Teens spend their bedtime hours on devices and sleep with their phones on their pillows, which significantly delays sleep.” They also blame early start of classes in the US and an excessive number of tasks and activities.

The COVID pandemic was related to adolescent depression, trauma, and mood swings; but there are other factors within reach of parents and educators, such as bedtimes, schedules, homework and, above all, making time for parents to be with their children. every moment of this wonderful life. It’s beautiful anyway.

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