“Ugh, I’m so depressed. I got a C- on my algebra test.”
Depressed. We all know we have thrown this word around at least once or twice in our lives, maybe even every other day. But what we don’t realize is how many people it affects and what the condition entails.
Depression is not just “feeling sad,” like some people may understand it to be. It’s an extremely difficult condition that some have to deal with everyday.
“It’s like a battle between mind and emotions. You know you should be happy but you don’t feel happy,” Jill Moore* said. “It’s like it’s a personal struggle to find happiness in life. The smallest things get you down for days and you can’t figure out why.”
Depression is so much more than what we imply in those quick sentences we say to our friends about a test or a homework assignment.
Belittling this word is offensive to the people who are actually suffering from depression. We need to be carefulof what we say. It could deeply hurt someone around us, and diminishing the condition can cause people with depresion to become even more troubled. So we need to stop. I think by doing this, we can save a lot of people from stress and frustration.
Not only do we depreciate this word and condition, but we don’t realize how common it is. The statistics for depression are off-the-charts.
According to the prime Health Roundation, counties in our area, Jackson, Clay, Platte, Johnson, and Wyandotte, have about 27,000 youth 10 to 19 that are suffering from depression.
On a larger scale, about 17.5 million Americans alone are affected by depression, twice as many women than men, according to the Uplift Program, an organization that creates awareness for depression.
These statistics make me sick to my stomach.
“I know people think, oh, it’ll never happen to me. But statistics are crazy for it, especially teenagers,” Moore said. “I think that people just need to take the time to open up to others.”
With so many people being affected by this condition, I say we need to take notice. We need to understand and be educated. It’s the least we can do to help.
We need to call attention to depression. Not by getting in people’s faces, but by making people aware of it. So many are ignorant of what it’s like, including me. But by speaking with a classmate who has gone through depression and after researching the Uplift Program, I have come to understand what a struggle it is.
“I guess, we just need to make people aware that each person has a personal reason and story,” Moore said. “Maybe we can put the subject out there in a judgement-free way.”
Yes, let’s. This is important because according to the Uplift Program, 54 percent of people think that depression is just a personal weakness. These people need to get that notion out of their heads, because that is just dead wrong.
The hardest time for Moore was before she told anyone she was suffering. She was doubting herself and what she was feeling, Moore said.
“After telling people, though, that’s when you get reassurance and realize that people still love you even if you personally don’t feel it,” Moore said.
So everyone, I say we need to take care of each other a little more. Talk to people. Make them feel appreciated. You never know how much a simple “hello” or “how are you feeling?” can affect a person.
Ultimately, ignorance of the subject can be detrimental to helping people with depression.
So, google the facts. Learn about the stats in our area. Make sure you aren’t ignorant of the truth about depression and give attention to someone you don’t usually talk to today. It’ll help everyone in the long run.
*Anonymous