I sat in the living room of my house, with the Little League World Series on the TV, muted, while my parents sat in the room with me talking to one another.
I sat in the living room of my house, with the Little League World Series on the TV, muted, while my parents sat in the room with me talking to one another.
They were talking about the death of actor/comedian Robin Williams who, just a couple days prior, had been found in his home after committing suicide. My parents, who are pretty open-minded people, were talking about how they just couldn’t understand how anyone, especially someone with as great a life as Williams’, could bring themselves to commit suicide.
I didn’t have the heart to tell them that I was just a couple weeks removed from a serious suicidal episode of my own.
I have severe depression. I am under the care of a psychiatrist and take medication every day to combat the disease.
I’m not alone. One in 10 Americans suffer from depression at some point in their lives. In the demographic of college students, 44 percent of students report symptoms of depression, while 75 percent of those cases go untreated.
Lack of awareness is one of the biggest problems with mental illness. So, here’s another fact many of you probably didn’t know: Today, Sept. 10, is National Suicide Prevention Day, and the odds are overwhelming that you or someone you know is struggling with depression.
Here’s how to help them:
Communication is a key part of fighting depression. That is why it is important to open up about your symptoms, and why it is important to be receptive to anyone who is opening up to you.
If someone comes to you and says they are feeling depressed, the most important thing to know is that they are not looking for you to say or do the perfect thing to make them feel better. It is the job of a psychiatrist to give a diagnosis, and offer pertinent medical advice. Your job, as the friend, relative, confidant, etc., is to listen to the speaker, and let them know you care about them.
It may be difficult to listen, especially if they say they are suicidal. But all you need to do is sit and listen, comfort them any way you can and try your best to point them in the direction of help.
Never tell someone who is depressed they have no reason to feel a certain way, or that you blame yourself for their problems, and never tell a suicidal person that they are selfish for wanting to kill themselves. All of this will only add to the already-massive amount of guilt and embarrassment they are likely feeling, and will discourage them from wanting to open up to you or anyone else in the future, which is the exact opposite of what your goal is.
And if you are feeling depressed, and feel that you don’t have anyone in your life you can talk to, let me first say I guarantee that you are wrong. But if you are convinced that that is true, then my email is below my headshot. Reach out to me, someone who’s been through much of it, and I will be there to listen. Or, if you’re not comfortable with that, call the national prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
But before even talking to anyone, consider this: People say life is short, but in reality, there’s a lot of time for things to change. There are people you haven’t even met yet whose lives are going to be immeasurably better just from knowing you. That’s an incredible gift to give someone, and every single person reading this possesses that gift. And all you need to do to give that gift is just stay alive.
There’s strength in words. So, let’s talk. Let’s listen. Let’s beat depression together.
Tony Wolfe is a sophomore studying journalism and is a sports writer at The Post. Email him at aw987712@ohio.edu or find him on Twitter at @_tonywolfe_
