Shane Vos
Doctor Stevens
Comm 329
The Fight Within: Destigmatizing Depression
Depression is a disease. Let that be drilled into all minds in this room right now.
Depression is a disease. Kevin Breel, a mental health activist and a young man
featured on Ted Talks at 19 years of age said that, “Real depression isn’t being
sad when something in your life goes wrong. Real depression is being sad
when everything in your life is going right.” Today, I want you to know a little bit
about depression, and from that, give you guidance should you ever find a loved one
or yourself struggling with this problem.
I.
(Hard hitting pictures)
They would be better off without me
I don’t want to be here anymore
I don’t want to feel anymore
I’d be doing the world a favor
I am worthless
Isolated
(Followed by hitting “control” and having the people in the room reflect on
there image like a mirror.)
“What is it you think when you look at yourself? Beautiful, Lucky.. is happy the word
you use?”
II.
I have a childhood friend that I have kept in contact with over the years.
Curtis was always the nicest kid in the world to me, hell, to anyone. He was a more
than exuberant and a little odd to say the least. Well last summer we were in my old
bedroom at my fathers where we got into depth with our conversation about how
things have been going. To cut it short, he had went on to break down and tell me
that he had dropped out of school, and that he had tried almost every drug and pill I
could name. He continued to tell me how he had tried so hard to get heroin, because
he didn’t know how to use it, and he knew he would overdose. He sat there on my
futon just crying and telling me how much he hated himself and it was something I
couldn’t understand. How could you be so unhappy? Where could this possibly
come from? Well, we don’t understand. We aren’t going through what they are
going through. Asking someone why they’re depressed is like asking someone why
they’re diabetic. All you can do is be there and make sure they know you care about
them.
III.
I asked all of you in my survey, “How would you handle a close friend
implying that he/she had suicidal thoughts?” All of you answered that you would
try to help. Of course you would, you’re all decent human beings after all. But the
real question would be, would you help yourself in you were in that same struggle.
IV.
As all of us are adults, I think it is important to know that an estimated 1 in
10 US adults are reportedly depressed according to the Center for Disease
Control and Prevention. Statistically speaking that’s at the very least 2 of us in this
room. Of those hypothetical two, they couldn’t get on twitter right now and make a
status that said, “I am depressed.” because they’re afraid of what the world thinks.
We are all afraid of the stigma.
V.
Jamie Tworkowski, founder of a suicide prevention organization by the
name of “To Write Love On Her Arms” said, “Two out of three people with
depression do not get help, and the third leading cause of death among 18-24
year olds is suicide.” So when does our generation make the change? We need to
make sure that we know how to address the issue should it ever arrive.
VI. Five ways you can help break the stigma is to realize that treatment can be
pivotal. Two, Maybe get involved in their care by just supporting the fact they are
getting treatment. You could also talk to them one on one about it, out loud and help
them get it out in the open. You should stay in contact with them and let them know
you’re here. Maybe even help them set smaller goals for themselves in the short
term.
What you can take away from this is the overlying message to all people. Just
be there. Just be there for someone in need and you could mean a world of
difference.