I received some terrible news this morning. A colleague of mine had taken his own life. He was a good man, married with two wonderful, healthy children. He had a great sense of humor, was well liked by all who knew him and he seemed to be happy. However, outward appearances can be deceiving and no one knows for sure what another person is really thinking. As news of his death began to sink in I was struck by irony of the situation. Here I was going through months of treatment, fighting for my life while someone else was willing to throw their life away. Many people experience depression at one point or another during their lives, but what drives a person to the point where they honestly believe that their family, friends and the world as a whole will be better off without them?
Everyone has their breaking point, but we need to remember that all of us have an ally in common…change. It’s the one thing that we humans can depend on in life. No matter how bad things appear to be now they will most certainly change in the future. However, when a person is in the throes of depression it can be difficult, almost impossible to see beyond what is happening right now. Societal attitudes and the perceived stigma associated depression and other mental health disorders need to change. People shouldn’t hesitate to ask for help, especially when they need it most. It’s not a sign of weakness. It’ a sign that says I’m going through a difficult period in my life and I can’t do it alone; I need the help and support of others to get me through this difficult time.
No comments:
Post a Comment