Diseases of despair

People who experience despair often show a number of conditions, which have been called diseases of despair:

• drug addiction, and drug overdose (including alcoholism, and alcohol overdose)
• suicide
• alcoholic liver disease

Deaths from these diseaes are sometimes called deaths of despair.

Causes

The causes are not fully known, but people believe that worsening economic inequality, and feeling hopless because of not being able to earn enough money may be part of them. This can take manys forms: For example peole are told that certain products are important to have, but it turns out that these products are too expensive for them to buy. Also, losing a job, or generally working in areas where wages are low may contribute.