One Nation Under Stress

One Nation Under Stress, released in 2019, is a compelling documentary that delves into the critical subject of healthcare, public health, and the unprecedented levels of stress that Americans are experiencing in modern-day society. The documentary features the renowned neurosurgeon, medical reporter, and Emmy award-winning chief medical correspondent for CNN, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

The film explores a shocking reality in America: the falling life expectancy rates of the American population. Gupta sets out on a journey to examine the reasons behind this alarming statistic and investigate the underlying factors that are causing this decline. He seeks to understand why it’s primarily a specific demographic that seems to be dying prematurely - white, middle-aged Americans without a high school diploma.

Gupta, an engaging communicator who brings a compassionate, analytical, and captivating approach to complex healthcare issues, interviews public health officials, doctors, sociologists, and average Americans to better understand the causes of this relatively new phenomenon. Notably, in his quest for answers, Gupta is guided by the pioneering work of two scholars, Dr. Angus Deaton, a Nobel laureate, and his wife, Dr. Anne Case. who were the first to bring this devastating trend of declining American life expectancy to light.

The narrative of One Nation Under Stress is scattered with human stories that underline the impact of stress on communities across the U.S. It examines "deaths of despair," a term coined by Dr. Deaton and Dr. Case for premature deaths caused by drug overdoses, alcoholism, and suicide. The most affected demographics are ones hit hardest by job losses, economic downturns, and the opioid epidemic.

As the movie progresses, "diseases of despair" escalate to "deaths of despair," and Gupta's investigation gives the audience a thorough view of the socioeconomic factors exacerbating the country's health problems. Alongside this, the documentary also talks about the over-prescription of opioids and other drugs, perceived worthlessness leading to low self-esteem and depression, and an increasing gap between the rich and the poor, which causes a further decline in mental health.

Gupta does an admirable job of taking a complex issue and breaking it down to the bare bones, showing a clear correlation between economic stress and declining physical health. In the process, he introduces viewers to the concept of allostatic load - the stress wear and tear on the body, which can lead to severe health issues. He brings a physician's urgency to the subject, warning about the insidiousness of chronic stress and its alarming repercussions.

As the film progresses, Gupta also stresses the significant economic and sociopolitical factors attached to this health crisis. He discusses how economic insecurity, the loss of social cohesion, and diminished perceived personal value are causing professional and personal destabilization in middle-class Americans.

One Nation Under Stress reflects the direness of America's public health crisis and raises an alarm about the country's future. The film is both an enlightening examination of a public health crisis and a poignant social commentary. Gupta's deep compassion and determination to highlight an unreported crisis will evoke a sense of urgency and hope for change in the viewers.

This documentary laid bare the harsh reality of a nation under immense pressure and highlighted some of the key issues that need to be addressed if America is to reverse these distressing trends. Through a careful examination of the multifaceted contributing factors, One Nation Under Stress calls for urgent attention to socioeconomic inequalities and mental health that, if left unaddressed, threaten to undermine the fabric of American society.

Overall, One Nation Under Stress is a thought-provoking piece of documentary filmmaking. The film manages to guide viewers through a complex and overwhelming issue, never losing sight of the individual human experiences at its core. Many viewers will undoubtedly walk away from the film with new insights and a deeper understanding of a ticking time bomb within American society.