Almost everywhere I surfed the Internet, I found these two words together and they were almost companions… depression and suicide!

The stigma associated with mental illness in this country has to end! The discrimination; the insults…”nut” and “nut” have to stop! The fear of being fired from a job in this country because the employee seeks mental health care is shameful!

Stigma: (definition); shame or social disgrace

“We choose our sorrows and joys long before we experience them.” Kahil Gibron

From: depression.com;
Depression is a serious medical condition that can lead to the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior. Although most people who are depressed do not commit suicide, untreated depression can increase the risk of possible suicide. Whether or not you intend to act on these thoughts. Severely depressed people often do not have the energy to harm themselves, but it is when the depression wears off and they can gain more energy that they are more likely to attempt suicide!

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I saw a story on the news recently where a young man, about 21 years old, who is in college, was having problems with himself, and suicidal thoughts kept coming up in his mind. He was scared, like everyone else, so he went to seek help at a local health center. When the university officials found out about this, they expelled him from the university! This action by university officials is a shame! We can’t have another Virginia Tech in this country…and the kids have to get the help they need, when they need it, etc.

From: Psychology Information Online.com;
The impact of depression causes tremendous emotional pain; it upsets the lives of millions of people; negatively affects the lives of family and friends; reduces work output and absenteeism; has a negative impact on the economy… costing an estimated $44 billion per year!

“Depression is the inability to build a future.” may roll

I have a brother named Ricky who is an alcoholic and was spending time at the University of New Mexico Mental Health Center receiving care etc. One day, my mother and I went to visit Ricky, and while we were sitting in the lobby waiting to see him… we heard a lot of commotion outside. There were about six people in the group going into the Mental Health Center, including three police officers, who were pushing and shoving and trying to bring in an elderly couple who were in their 70s!

Screaming and screaming and crying… the old couple was not easy for the police to handle, and they took the old couple somewhere in the back of the building! My mother and I looked at each other in amazement! Why were the police bringing this elderly couple to the Mental Health Center? When the nurse came to take us to see Ricky, I asked her what had happened to the old couple.

The nurse told me that the old couple’s home burned to the ground…and if that wasn’t enough…their two grandchildren perished in the fire! Can there be a bigger disaster than this? We can all relate to this horror, because we all live in a house, apartment, or trailer, and it could happen to any of us, and within minutes, our lives would change for the worse! One can only imagine how the elderly couple sank into depression…and they could have harmed themselves or others, and that’s why the police brought them in to get medicine!

From: American Psychological Association;
Some people with depression try to hurt themselves in the mistaken belief that the way they feel will never change. Depression is one of the leading causes of disability in the United States and throughout the world.

“Depression thrives on a lifetime of hurts that have not been grieved or forgiven.” Sweet Penelope.

But, depression is not just because of the risk of suicide. It is for other risk factors and diseases as well. For example:

From: Depression Resource Center.org;
Research over the past decade has shown that depression and heart disease are common companions, and worse…one can lead to the other! It now appears that depression is a major risk factor for heart disease along with high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

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Over the last decade or so, I’ve been fired from six jobs, for legitimate reasons like company closures; defense cuts; size reduction etc. I have never lost a job because I was fired or because of an attitude or poor attendance. etc But, during this terrible time in my life, I probably suffered from depression and didn’t know it! After educating myself, I was now able to take the necessary medications to help me cope!

“When your neighbor loses his job…it’s a recession…but when you lose YOUR job…it’s a depression!” Harry Truman

By raising awareness, Americans need to remove the stigma associated with mental illness, and everyone needs to do their part! Parents need to teach their children not to tease…or pick on anyone for any reason…as others may also have trouble coping etc. If the golden rule ever applied… it applies here… do to others what you would like them to do to you!