It’s high time we take people with depression seriously. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), people suffering from it has already reached over 300 million as of year 2017. Yet we often see people with these problems as if they were just thirsty for attention. Nothing more serious than that.
Let’s not wait for a family member or a very close friend to commit suicide before we change our opinion about depression. It’s about time we listen, understand and help people suffering from it.
How can we understand or help people with depression? Let’s find out how.
Have time for them.
Oftentimes, people with these problems want to be alone. This is because they don’t feel they’re understood. They seek solitude because they can best express their emotions and release their pain this way. To be alone for them means no one will tell them they just crave for attention and even affection.
But even if they want to be just by themselves, let’s make it a point to tell them we’re just here if they need us. Let’s not force our company on them yet make them understand we’re just a call or a text message away. They should know we’ll be there for them the moment they wish to be with people they can lean on to.
Allow them to listen to the kind of music they want to listen to.
Many of us often dislike the kind of music that the forlorn prefer to listen to. We find their songs dark, loud and sort of evil. We feel that these kinds of songs will trigger even more their mental disorder. But if we really put our feet in their shoes, we will understand their need to listen to songs like these.
Their songs express how they feel. The music carry their pain, struggles and their brokenness. The messages of their songs bring refuge to their tired and lonely hearts.
If we prevent them from listening to their songs, we also prevent them from expressing their thoughts and feelings. They will feel all the more stressed, rejected, misunderstood, misjudged, insecure and a failure.
Let’s allow them to listen to the songs they love to hear. That’s the best way we can show them we understand what they’re going through. And when they finally overcome their problems, and when they ask us for other types of songs and movies, that’s the time we suggest positive and uplifting songs to them.
Avoid sending them Bible verses or being preachy to them.
Many people with depression are not at all atheists. They also pray, seek God’s guidance and help. If we send them Bible verses, or if we scold them for not seeking God’s help, we’re really being cruel. Our actions will bring them more disillusionment. They will feel that they are being judged for straying or wandering away from God. This will cause them to belittle themselves more and feel worthless.
The best thing we can do is pray for them in silence. The Bible verses should only follow suit if they ask for those.
Monitor their behavior.
Many cases of people who committed suicide reveal that they were sending silent messages to us through their social media posts and text messages. We should be more sensitive and more discerning of the things they’d want to tell us. There maybe telltale signs already that they were about to end their lives but no one noticed their messages.
It’s better to be more alert and observant of the things depressed people say in person or through social media platforms. And it’s better if we can make them feel we’re here for them. When their messages get to be more obvious and alarming, let’s inform their family members not to leave them alone in the house.
Make them feel that they’re loved and that they’re important.
Being worthless and insignificant often lead to negative thoughts and actions which can turn into depression. So let’s make sure we’re sending positive thoughts to them often. We can inform them we need and love them and that they’re important to us. Aside from this, let’s give them reasons to be happy and hopeful, that there are still so much in store for them in the future. We should help them realize there are better days and years ahead for people like them.
