Blog#8 Awareness

  

      Mental health is a serious concern in the times we are currently living in. Mental health is something that shouldn't be taken lightly. For some, this could be a very sensitive topic, but it is important to shed light and bring awareness to it. In today's world, we are faced with new and challenging obstacles. Challenges that we never thought we would experience in our lifetime. These new challenges bring on major depression and suicidal thoughts. We are now living in a world that is computerized with little to no human interaction. Zoom calls, face timing, and text messages flood our phones and computers which in return leads us to the lack of human interaction that we so desperately need.

     Depression comes in many shapes and forms, there is no guide book to depression. Since the pandemic, there are studies that show an increase in suicide ranging from 1% all the way to 145% according to thebmj website. (https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4352) Since Covid-19 there have been more cases of severe depression and suicidal thoughts, but there are tools we can utilize to keep us mentally healthy. Bringing awareness to depression and suicide can help many individuals that are suffering, if we try to understand what it is, how it affects people, and what we can do to help, we can decrease the suicide rate and support people that are coping with depression. This is important because this can happen to the ones closest to us. If we become educated on the topic we could better understand where people are coming from. This isn't to joke around about, this isn't something to take lightly because you never know how the words we say can affect others. 

    Battling depression is a hard task all in itself. Symptoms of depression can be feelings of sadness or overwhelming hopelessness, anger outbursts, irritability, or frustration even over small matters, loss of interest or pleasure in most things; hobbies or sports, anxiety, tiredness, weight loss, frequent or reoccurring thoughts of health, and unexplained physical problems. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms it is okay and you are not alone. It can be hard to open up dark thoughts going on inside your head, it okay to feel all those feelings, but you do not want to stay there. There are many support groups, hotlines, and close family and friends you can turn to, even if you feel like you don't want to. Here are some sites and hotlines that may help; https://www.nami.org/Support-Education, https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/, and here is a number to text if you do not feel comfortable talking on the phone: 1-800-273-8255. If you or someone you know is suffering from depression here is another link to help you better support them: https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-help-a-depressed-friend. Like I stated before suicide and depression shouldn't be looked over, even something as simple as listening can change a person's life, until next time bloggers.