Aaqib Illahi Bhat Depression
“The only thing more exhausting than being depressed is pretending that you’re not”.
One of the reports of WHO published on the 30th of January 2020 shows that 800,000 people die due to suicide every year. It is the second leading cause of death among the age groups 15 – 29 years.
Such incidents around us have increased at an alarming rate, adding to the numbers and most of these cases are of young people.
So what seems to be wrong?
Informal talks and exchanges amongst youth have indicated, there is a sort of mental fatigue, anxiety, and dis-contentedness that sets in which consumes most of their life.
Informal discussions held amongst youth indicate, a sort of void seems to set in among such individuals, which needs to be addressed, counselled or taken care of in time, otherwise when these increase beyond a certain critical level – it leads to depression
We often relate depression, anxiety, and mental illness with the financial problems people face but then we come across examples of people who are very well financially and living a life of luxury but commit suicide because of depression and mental illness.
These things make us think about what the reason is, what makes people victims of such problems? Why do people choose to end their life despite having access to all the luxuries of life?
We may not know all the answers, but some reasons behind these questions are:
When we see a person in our society having such issues, struggling with mental health, we often avoid such people and act like there is no problem.
Instead of trying to help the person by listening to him, we start finding faults with him and further push the person to lose faith in him. He loses confidence in him, becomes demoralised and frustrated- he questions the Creator.
This not only pushes him further into a ditch but also makes him a sinner, as he started doubting all.
Stephen Fry has said, “If you know someone who’s depressed, please resolve never to ask them why. Depression isn’t a straightforward response to a bad situation; depression just is, like the weather. Try to understand the blackness, lethargy, hopelessness, and loneliness they’re going through. Be there for them when they come through the other side. It’s hard to be a friend to someone who’s depressed, but it is one of the kindest, noblest, and best things you will ever do.”
Some things that can be done to help:
- We can try to be patient with such people.
- We need to listen to them.
- We need to interact with them
- In some cases where counselling is required, help can be sought from professionals.
- Excess confinement of our lives to social media, mobile phones, and our daily schedules where a person isolates himself and forgets to take care of his mental health should be avoided.
- We should spend time with family members to relieve our mental pressures.
- We need to train our brain properly to overcome our mental fears.
- We should understand highs and lows are part of life and these should be dealt with carefully without affecting our mental health.
- Parents should keep communication channels open with their children.
- Help should be sought at early stages in cases such symptoms are detected amongst young children.
- Timely counselling can help avoid big losses.
