Publication: Progenitor Art & Literary Journal | Arapahoe CC

of Arapahoe Community College in Colorado ​

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Work Title: Save the Drowning Mice – Progenitor Volume 59 on page 53

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Summary: "Save the Drowning Mice" by Joy Curtis reflects on the forced swim test used in animal research to study depression and antidepressants. The test involves placing mice in water they cannot escape, where they initially struggle but eventually float, indicating despair. Curtis uses this scenario to explore the metaphor of drowning, suggesting that people who feel like they are drowning in life may not be lacking resilience, but rather are in unsafe, unescapable situations. She critiques the assumption that depression stems from a lack of motivation, urging that the real solution is to remove people from unsafe circumstances and provide them with safety and support. Ultimately, the piece advocates for recognizing that drowning—whether literal or figurative—is a sign that one needs to be rescued, not just encouraged to endure.