One in five people experience depression at some stage in their lives. That statistic comes from beyondblue. It's a sobering thought; there is a high likelihood that you, or somebody that you know, has suffered, or will suffer, at least one episode of a depressive illness. It is one of the most common mental heath problems, yet there can be such a lack of awareness of the issue that sufferers have no choice but to face stigma, or to suffer silently.I have recently been through a debilitating bout of depression which lead me to a month-long stay in a psychiatric hospital. I was fortunate enough to have a wonderful friend who voiced his concerns to me over the change in my demeanour, encouraged me to seek help, and was always a shoulder for me to cry on. My family and I are so grateful to him for being there, when some people reacted unfavourably to what I was going through, thinking it was just a mood change, or a phase I was going through. Depression isn't just a mood you can snap out of. It encompasses your entire world, strips you of your self-worth, leaves you feeling hollow and desperate.
Armed with more information I hope that people will no longer have to suffer in silence. If people are as lucky as I was, to be surrounded by caring friends and family, the tiniest act can have the biggest impact. beyondblue is a wonderful resource for those who would like to learn more about depression and related mental health issues, and has links to other useful resources. And for footy fans, on the 25th of July, the Hawks and the Cats will play for the beyondblue Cup to raise awareness of depression. There will be 2 public forums (1 for each team) in the lead-up to the game. More information can be found on the beyondblue website.
~ Amanda
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