Imagine your worst day possible. That’s basically the best one for those in depression.

Depression, a disregarded state where sleep is an escape, smile is a pretend, loneliness is preference and crying is mundane. Yet still, the world fails to recognize this fatal illness. Why? Because we’re in habit of un-looking the evident— let alone looking the un-evident!

Predictable it may sound (hey, it’s mandatory), here are few ‘Did You Know’ facts':

• More than 300 million people of all ages, around the world, suffer from depression.

• About 800,000 people die due to suicide each year, a portion of which is triggered by depression.

• In India, 36 percent of Indians are likely to suffer from major depression.

• 1 in 5 people in India need counseling, either psychological or psychiatric.

Now when was the last time did you see a gala or event held to raise fund to help people out of this deadly mental ailment? Never? When was the last time did you see a charity for cancer help? Yesterday? Last week?

Not to take away the severity of cancer (it gets a well-deserving attention), it’s quite perplexing that even with the severity that imprints a large section of the society, depression remains a hushed topic in the mainstream. More so, not only do people NOT talk about this illness, many even fail to recognize it as a problem.

Some believe it’s self-created, others assume it’s like a basic headache that would eventually go away. So is the ignorance of the society, and the lack of understanding on the subject, that even the victims question themselves and the legitimacy of their ill mental health.

Majority of victims fail to distinguish the normal stress level from the depressive state that eventually spirals up to take more lethal physical and mental form that potentially triggers their psychological state to take up violence against others or own-self. (Why do you think there are so many “Are you depressed quiz”?)

Indeed the overall state in this niche is highly concerning. However, what’s even more alarming that even after countless researches, surveys and scientific breakthroughs in regards to depression, we’re snail-ing towards fixing this broken fabric of society.

The issue of depressive state isn’t picked up in the higher education among students, employers pay less heed towards the mental stability of their employees, parents still treat unsteady attitude of their kids as puberty and young sons/daughters consider the loneliness in their parents as regular old-age disorders.

Are you listening?

Yes, you’re depressed and life seems impossible to live. But hold on. If you’re at the end of your rope, tie a knot there and hang. Strive to survive for one more day. Life is much more wonderful that spans beyond the 4-walls surrounding you right now. Work hard, persist and have faith—the walls will crack and the sunlight will penetrate through to add definition to your life. It’s bad at the moment – worst, in fact. But it will get better.

Are you listening?

Help that friend who’s suffering from this illness. Don’t mock; don’t underestimate the severity; don’t assume it would go away. Be the help your friend wishes for in silence. Be that shoulder where she/he can rest their head and wait for the brighter days to come. Listen to their woes, don’t offer made-up solution, and listen to their woes some more. The depressed individuals need an empathetic person by their side—they need someone to tell them that it’s going to be okay. Be that person.

Are you listening? Is anybody listening? Who are you? What worldview do you hold of depression? Waiting for help? Willing to help?

Every answer must begin with a basic acceptance. Depression is fatal and requires big attention from every one—just as much as cancer gets.

Source:

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs369/en/

http://yourdost.com/blog/2017/03/depression-statistics-in-india.html?q=/blog/2017/03/depression-statistics-in-india.html&