ubiquitous depression

Depression is a verifiable clinical syndrome.  Most of us know about this depression and quite a few people have experienced the disorder.  It occurs to me that our society is experiencing a form of depression.  Last week I met with another community organizer and we talked about our impression of people being disconnected, uninvolved and apathetic.  These sound like the symptoms of depression.  The more I  thought about this diagnosis the more it seems to fit for large sections of our society.

Lets face it, if you had to live in a neighborhood in which vacant and dilapidated houses were sprinkled throughout, it would not compliment your mental health.  One of the largest landmarks in the neighborhood where I minister is the Drewry Brewery.  The defunct brewery has been scheduled for demolition for some time, but no action has been taken.  Instead, the abandoned facility is dangerous and a magnet for undesirable activities.

This sort of environment can do little other than breed an atmosphere of apathy, isolation and, as I said, depression.  The nation's economic situation coupled with poor employment options only adds to the general malaise.  So, what's the solution?  Prozac in the drinking water?

This is what the community developer/organizer walks into.  This is the situation I face every day.  What does motivate people and move them out of their doldrums is an issue.  When there is an issue that breeds strong feelings a neighborhood can get energized and organize around that issue.  Sometimes an organizer needs to present an issue in a way that it clearly impinges on the interests of a neighborhood.  The next step is to teach people how they can make a difference and impact the process.

I am working on organizing the neighborhood around the church with a community gardenin hopes that this will appeal to folks' altruism and benefit the surrounding community.  As we work through the planning and organization during this fall and winter, I know that people can be motivated to organize around issues that impact on their quality of life and house values.  I also think that the changing administration, with the openness for input, will also contribute to involvement in the process of neighborhood organization.