I was in the fifth grade when I realized that nobody would talk about depression, anxiety or suicide. It always puzzled me, why were these crucial issues not addressed? It was residing in a country where if you weren't well mentally you were considered to be "mad". It was living in a country where if it wasn't physical, it didn't matter. I could never (still can't) fathom what was so bad about or wrong with not being okay mentally.
It was in between the ages of twelve and thirteen that I completely noticed the stigma. Why did my broken mind not receive the same sympathy as my friend with the wounded leg? Why is everyone afraid to talk about that one elephant in the room that we all know exist? There are people who treat depression as if it is a terminal Illness yet millions of people are living proof that it gets better. Why are people shunned because their illness consumed them? Why are we automatically considered lazy for being unable to physically leave our bed?
People are told that they're seeking attention the second they acknowledge their illness and ask for help. We encourage people to address their issues and seek help then in the same breathe we ridicule and belittle them. Why? Why encourage persons only to tear them down at the same time? Why is there a stigma attached to mental health? Why is it okay for people to suffer in silence?
Why is it okay for mental illnesses to only matter when a crime is involved? Because we only associate mental illness with erratic and uncontrollable violent behavior. Why do we only talk about depression or suicide when a celebrity is involved? Because we as a society put celebrities on a certain pedestal where we only believe something is real when it happens to them. However, it's time for us "ordinary people" to accept our own truth, our own struggles, our own fights with ourselves. It's time we speak out and help our brothers' and sisters' suffering with mental health issues. It's 2018, it's time for a change.
Why is it okay for mental illnesses to only matter when a crime is involved? Because we only associate mental illness with erratic and uncontrollable violent behavior. Why do we only talk about depression or suicide when a celebrity is involved? Because we as a society put celebrities on a certain pedestal where we only believe something is real when it happens to them. However, it's time for us "ordinary people" to accept our own truth, our own struggles, our own fights with ourselves. It's time we speak out and help our brothers' and sisters' suffering with mental health issues. It's 2018, it's time for a change.
