Last year, I came home to a horrific scene outside
our condominium. A 19-year-old student, who had been suffering from depression,
had committed suicide by jumping off the roof of our 26-storey building. All of
us who looked on were in complete disbelief. Until then, suicide and depression
had just been news and magazine articles. For me, that moment was a grisly
awakening; and the look on other people’s faces taught me that I was not alone.
Depression is a silent killer. It is a
common but insidious mental disorder wherein people experience feelings of worthlessness,
loss of energy, and depressed mood. It can last from a few days to months, and
can frequently recur over a lifetime, with the early 20s being the usual age of
onset. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 350 million people worldwide
are affected. The main problem with depression though is that it is often
ignored or suppressed until it becomes severe. It
is easily treatable, yet people, especially teenagers and young adults, suffer
for years before seeking medical consultation. In fact, only less than half (in
some countries, less than 10%) of people with depression receive treatment. The
most prominent reasons for this are denial, lack of awareness, resources and
support, and the associated social stigma.
Ultimately, untreated depression can give
rise or worsen a plethora of health conditions from personality disorders to
heart problems. However, suicide is depression’s most horrible offshoot. It
claims more than 1 million lives each year and regrettably, young people are
bearing the brunt. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages
10-24 years. I can personally attest to this because just last March, I
attended the wake of a young friend who hanged himself inside his apartment,
making it the second suicide to hit close to home in just a short period. Across
the globe, young promising lives are cut short and many more are gradually destroyed
because people are not aware and do not seek help.
It
therefore follows that we must start eroding the existing social barrier. Young
people can easily initiate this, because the first step is simply to create
awareness. We need to recognize, and spread word that depression is a real communal
threat. This is so that everyone at home, school or work can develop the open-mindedness
to seek professional help, or refer friends and loved ones who are suspected of
having depression. Second, we have to be knowledgeable about practical options.
For example, if cost is a deterrent, there are primary healthcare facilities like
community/rural health centers that can provide basic, low-cost and effective
treatments that do not even require medication. These are just two of many
simple strategies that can ultimately save a life and all we have to do is to
keep informed and talk about the condition. Depression may be a silent killer,
but anyone with a voice can help stop it.
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