Vocabulary:
- surge /surj/
- on the whole /on thuh hohl/
- garner /GAHR-ner/
- pinpoint /PIN-point/
- narcissism /NAR-suh-siz-em/
[noun] a sudden increase
There was a surge in prices of rice in the aftermath of the typhoon.
[idiom] in general
There were minor setbacks, but on the whole, the program went smoothly.
[verb] to collect something, usually after much work or with difficulty
I garnered enough points to reach the next level of the game.
[verb] to discover or establish something exactly
The witness was able to pinpoint the criminal from the group of men who lined up.
[noun] too much interest in and admiration for the self
His blatant narcissism is the reason why he doesn’t have many friends.
The popularity of self-care apps has had a significant boost in 2018. This led to a notable surge in revenue of the creators of such apps. Intelligence firms specializing in app stores data reported that self-care apps earned a revenue of $15 million on the whole. This is in the US alone, whereas the said apps have garnered $27 million worldwide.
Experts cannot pinpoint one main reason behind this trend. Some claim that this is because of Millenials’ narcissism and obsession with self-care. Young people’s exposure to the internet may also be a factor due to the depressing nature of online content. A more positive perspective attributes it to the current generation’s increasing mental health awareness. Regardless of the reasons, experts advise that self-care apps should not be considered a substitute for professional mental health care in solving serious mental health issues.
Experts cannot pinpoint one main reason behind this trend. Some claim that this is because of Millenials’ narcissism and obsession with self-care. Young people’s exposure to the internet may also be a factor due to the depressing nature of online content. A more positive perspective attributes it to the current generation’s increasing mental health awareness. Regardless of the reasons, experts advise that self-care apps should not be considered a substitute for professional mental health care in solving serious mental health issues.
True or False:
- Self-care apps makers earned a total of $15 million worldwide.
- Experts established that young people’s narcissism is the main reason for the popularity of self-care apps.
- The number of downloads of self-care apps in 2017 is higher than in 2018.
- A person struggling with mental health issues can self-medicate using these self-care apps.
- The Internet is filled with positive content that makes people happy and satisfied.
Discussion Questions:
- Have you ever tried using a self-care app? If yes, how was it? If no, would you like to try it?
- In your opinion, how can a person achieve overall wellness?
- Do you agree with the claim that millennials are narcissistic? Why or why not?
- How does the government in your country address mental health issues?
- In your opinion, are mental health problems as serious as physical health complications? Please elaborate.
Express Your Opinion:
- “The perfect man of old looked after himself first before looking to help others.” – Chuang-Tzu
- “It is not love that should be depicted as blind, but self-love.” – Voltaire
- “There is no health without mental health; mental health is too important to be left to the professionals alone, and mental health is everyone’s business.” – Vikram Patel