Paula Eleazar Mendez of DeQueen, Ark., was accused of killing her 6-year-old set of twins and her 8-year- old Monday. An autopsy is being performed to find out if the children were poisoned or smothered, according to Mainichi Daily News.
The family priest described the woman as “experiencing profound sorrow” and the notes she left in Spanish will hopefully give more insight into the tragedy.
The “profound sorrow” described by the priest sounds like depression.
Depression, according to the American Heritage College Dictionary, is a psychotic or neurotic condition characterized by an inability to concentrate, insomnia and feelings of sadness, dejection and hopelessness.
People should look at depression as a disease and not just a bad case of the “mean-reds.”
According to http://www.clinical-depression.co.uk, 9.2 million Americans have major or clinical depression and an estimated 35 million to 40 million Americans will suffer depression sometime in their lifes. This is a very real disease that needs the attention of the nation.
As soon as Americans begin to understand this growing disease and develop accessible treatment, the sooner mentally ill Americans-who want to use this as an excuse to commit heinous acts because they weren’t feeling well and get away with it-will end.
By no means should this take the front seat to ending world hunger, the AIDS epidemic or getting Bush (both of them) out of office, but innocent children shouldn’t die because their caretaker isn’t feeling well.
-Tenikca Morning for the editorial board.