Mental Health - the Silent Killer

Since the suicide of Robin Williams, I've been reading numerous articles and reports on depression and mental health problems. Around 4,400 people end their own lives in the UK every year and at least ten times that number attempt suicide. Around 90 per cent of suicide victims suffer from a psychiatric disorder at the time of their death.

The fact of the matter is (in my humble opinion) unless you've been through it (and I hope no one I know and love EVER has to go through it) no one can understand the devastating effects depression and anxiety can have on someone.

The sheer feeling of hopelessness, the feeling that the never-ending veil of darkness will never lift, the night will never end no matter how bright outside - are just a few things that people with depression feel. On the flip side, racing hearts, minds and constantly being stressed and panicked are just a few of things people with anxiety feel. The idea that things will never get better, that life is just one long dark road to eventual destruction, the feeling of heavy weights being piled over and over on your chest - what's the point of living if things are never going to get better? The deep dark place in your mind, your heart is what takes over any form of logical thinking. The heartbreaking pain, the intense hurt stops you from thinking rationally and taking the steps to help yourself.

So it goes without saying that telling people to 'snap out of it', 'it's fine, it'll get better', 'what's wrong with you?', 'don't be such a drama queen' doesn't really help. It doesn't help because you can't just snap out of it. And as far as you're concerned, things will never get better. And there is something wrong - something seriously wrong. If help isn't sought, things can and will only get worse. That's no drama - that's the reality of it.

Comfort the person, care for them. Ask them to seek help, help them find that help. Try to bring them out of the heavy darkness. Above all, be there for them every step of the way, no matter how hard it becomes - before it's too late. The reason people don't ask for help is because they feel they'll be dismissed, their feelings will be cast aside as something unimportant and something which will get better of its own accord. 'Give it time' they say. 

Unfortunately, as the death of Robin Williams has taught us - time is not always on the side of someone with depression and anxiety.

'But he seemed fine' they say. 'It didn't seem like he was depressed - he was always so happy'.

Mental health is a silent cancer. One which, often, isn't diagnosed until it's far, far too late. Most people who commit suicide just want to stop hurting.