Depression doesn’t discriminate
There is no shame in you not being able to help them, accept your limitations and find someone who can help them.
How often do we ask those around how they are doing mentally?
Are they coping?
Is there something they are struggling with?
If there is, how can we support them?
The truth is, we don’t do it often enough.
We ask how the person is and leave it at that.
If you were to ask someone close to you how they are, and they responded by saying they are depressed, how would you react?
I can tell you several ways of how not to respond.
1. Don’t ask why they are depressed?
2. Don’t ask what they have to be depressed about because life is going so well for them.
3. Don’t turn the conversation around and make it about yourself.
4. Don’t tell them that people in Africa have bigger problems than themselves.
5. Most importantly, don’t tell them to snap out of it or pull themselves together.
If they could do that, don’t you think they would have already done that?
Also read: Monday Motivation: 5 important tweets around Mental Health
Depression is not a choice.
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group describes depression as a “whole-body” illness, involving your body, mood and thoughts.
It affects the way you eat and sleep, the way you feel about yourself, and the way you think about things and is not the same as a temporary blue mood.
Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months or years.
Depression has no colour or age group or success level.
It affects everyone.
Highly accomplished Professor Bongani Mayosi, dean of Health Sciences at the University of Cape Town, took his own life on July 27 after battling with depression for two years.
He was a highly regarded cardiologist who had the admiration of his colleagues and peers and a supportive family.
Many other famous and accomplished people have also battled this illness.
Also read: Actor Robin Williams dies at 63
When it comes to mental health, depression is just one of many illnesses that people struggle through.
As the family and friends around these people, it is important that we check in with each other every now and again.
Their illness is not a reflection of how you’re not loving or supporting them enough.
Treat it the way you would a cold or a broken bone.
Seek medical help, don’t look for factors to blame or find reasons the illness is there.
Accept it and find ways you can help make things a little better for them.
That means opening yourself up to listening, being educated and withholding judgement.
The only way we can get rid of the stigma around mental health is to talk about it and accept it for what it is.
The most responsible thing you can do when someone tells you they are struggling with their mental health is to believe them.
There is no shame in you not being able to help them, accept your limitations and find someone who can help them.
There are free clinics with counselling services, treatment they can take to help stabilise their mood and maybe even a few lifestyle changes.
Each person is different and they each have a unique treatment plan.
It won’t be easy.
They won’t be ‘cured’ within months or maybe even the first few months.
It takes time, you just need to be there to hold their hand throughout the process.
Follow us on our social media platforms:
