Breaking free from myths & taboo ❤

If he had a visible physical disability or illness, maybe we could have shown the understanding, compassion, empathy required to know how to get him the help he needed.  Instead we thought/heard things like:

✔ “Hard work will snap him out of it”
✔ “He will get over it, eventually”
✔ “We (black people) don’t do that kind of thing”
✔ “He couldn’t overcome his demons”
✔ “Don’t go check yourself into a clinic or anything, that will leave a mark on your record as ‘mental’”
✔ “Let’s pray him out of it”
✔ “He should have been stronger than that”
✔ “If he believed in God, he never would have been able to take his own life.  He’s going to hell”

We need to create a communication culture where it is okay to say: “Hey I haven’t been feeling well the last couple of weeks and I can’t seem to snap out of it.  I’m going to talk to a doctor about getting some help to lift my spirit/mood/help me get back on my feet”.

Depression can be developed by anyone at any point in their lives.  As we’ve seen recently with Robin Williams, Kate Spade, and Anthony Bourdain: depression is not a condition determined by age, race, or wealth.

These 2 young men, from completely different walks of life, both described as perfectly healthy by family & friends.

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