Depression has no face but Depression is for real. Depression Survivors come out strong and relate with others. It is imperative that we make lives around us happier and healthier – in our homes, in our neighbourhoods, and in the workplace.
As many of you know I began with a Mental Health Awareness Series named “Humanity ki Chain” on my YouTube Channel as a medium to promote Mental Health Awareness and also give a platform to Depression Survivors to present their story and inspire others.
Sharing a Real Story because we live in a real world even though the mode of presentation is Virtual. #Voices is my other collective human effort to raise voices against stigmas and shame attached to Mental disorders, the best way way to normalize the conversations around mental disorders is to actually have some conversations and make it a norm in our society.
How Depression Screams In Silence When No One Is Listening
As per statistics, 90% of people don’t take Mental Health seriously, they think mental health is something they should not talk about but it is very important we talk about it, as it directly affects our physical health as well.
People have a habit of ignoring mental health or avoid seeking help for fear that they would be called mentally ill or they would be judged, or labelled. But the fact is, it is as important as our Physical fitness.
It is just like when we fall ill, cold, cough, or fever, we take medical supervision, the Same way proper medication, care and the feeling that it will heal with time and our loved ones are always there to help and support us, will surely cure depression and any Mental distress.
WHO estimates that one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. Around 450 million people currently suffer from such conditions, placing mental disorders among the leading causes of ill health and disability worldwide.
Globally, the total number of people with depression was estimated to exceed 300 million in 2015, equivalent to 4.3% of the world’s population. Depression is ranked as the single largest contributor to global disability (7.5% of all years lived with disability in 2015). At its worst, depression can lead to suicide, over 800,000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15-29-year-olds.
In India, the National Mental Health Survey 2015-16 reveals that nearly 15% of Indian adults need active intervention for one or more mental health issues and one in 20 Indians suffers from depression. It is estimated that in 2012, India had over 258,000 suicides, with the age group of 15-49 years being the most affected.
Also read: How Does Society See Mental Health Disorders
Depression Survivors are the pain warriors
It is sad to see that society sees depression, anxiety, or any mental illness with prejudice. There is a lot of stigmas attached to it, which we need to break and it is possible only when we collectively speak about it.
When I decided to raise my voice against the stigmas and for mental health awareness, even I was labelled and judged by my own people, to the extent that I was questioned about my degrees and what knowledge I had to pursue this career path. But continuing to pursue this career path gave me the answer that to do good things, we don’t need a degree or validation, but our intentions should be pure and crystal clear.
To date, I haven’t stopped learning and upgrading myself. I have done multiple certification courses, not to prove to someone, but to educate myself and be able to help out others more effectively.
Moreover, I have been doing all the things in my capacity to raise awareness to enable people to talk about mental health illnesses like depression and anxiety. I have tried to be non-judgemental and an active listener and it has made me the best version of myself.
Also read: 6 Simple Ways To Improve Your Mental Health
This is how depression looks like
While some people choose to come out open and speak about their problems, there are few who still prefer to be silent warriors. A story is a story if it is worth inspiring to others.
I will be presenting what I all get in the form of blog posts which could act as a source of inspiration and motivation to the readers and a message to the ones who are struggling that, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Name: Anonymous (because he wanted to keep his identity safe)
His story in his own words:
- Fill up your bedroom with happy quotes filled with positivity.
- Read them aloud every day.
- Get back to things you have a passion for.
- Tell or vent out your feelings to your parents or preferably your spouse or simply the person you trust the most. This will bring down anxiety levels and improve your mental health.
- Have curd a scoop on a daily basis.
- Include blueberries and dark chocolate in your diet.
Today If I can come out of depression and lead a happy life, I guarantee you all can be successful too. Make the obstacles in life a stepping stone to your success. Let it be if life gives you sad moments it will give you the rainbow of happiness as well. Never Give up. Your life is what you make it. Make it beautiful and inspirational. All the best. Good luck. Stay blessed and Take Care.
Thanks, Anonymous
So this was the message from a person I have known for quite some time and I salute his courage to speak about it openly. The more we speak, the more we share our experiences the more we normalize mental illness. I will be posting more such stories, which I am sure will help to inspire others. Let us build a happy space together. Rise Up!
Love and light!
