Danny Baker once stated that, “Depression is living in a body that fights to survive with a mind that tries to die.” There are more than 350 million people in the world who suffers from depression according to The Gale Encyclopedia of Science. One way to combat depression is taking time to learn more and read about mental health issues. Fictional novels should remain in schools curriculum because they contain messages about social issues which allows readers empathize and connect to the real world. For instance, in the novel, Identical by Ellen Hopkins, the author conveys many messages about social issues, however, her main theme is about depression. The novel follows the lives of two twins that struggle in life due to their dysfunctional upbringing. Although the school board finds little value in fiction, it is in the best interest of the students they serve to keep it because it allows readers to…show more content… Articles such “depression” and “suicide prevention” have a relationship with Identical. I read once, “Depression is a psychoneurotic disorder characterized by lingering sadness, inactivity, and difficulty in thinking and concentration (The Gale Encyclopedia of Science)”. Depression occurs throughout the world. When someone is depressed it could lead to suicide. In the fiction book Identical there are many signs of depression. “ People with chronic physical injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, or a past history of trauma or abuse (such as rape or child abuse) are at increased risk” (Gale Student Resources in Context). Many girls who have been raped or abused are the ones who mainly are depressed. It is important to know the information about teen suicide and depression because it happens all around the world ,and it is a serious issue today. Students main conflict in school and in their everyday life is being depressed. Therefore, reading fiction books could help with our society's social
