Reading – If You Want to Help Protect People From Suicide, Stop Telling Them ‘You’re Fine’

“Encountering someone who deals with mental health issues is a lot more common than one might think, seeing as nearly one in five American adults — 43.7 million — experiences mental illness every year. If that seems overwhelming, consider:

• One in 10 Americans is affected by depression.
• More than 80 percent of people who are clinically depressed are not receiving treatment.
•  The number of people diagnosed with depression increases by about 20 percent every year.
• An estimated 121 million people worldwide suffer from depression.
• In 2013, 41,149 suicides were reported in the United States, which was the highest rate of suicide since 1987.

How we respond to those individuals can truly be the difference between life and death, and the way we interact with someone who struggles with mental health issues must be taken with extreme caution and empathy.

We must not lower our understanding of the severity of depression and mental health issues to “just feeling bad” or “having a bad few months.” This is an issue rooted deep within the heart and mind of those affected. We must come to the aid of those who are hurting and in pain and truly value the sanctity of life.”

The numbers always amaze me. Everyone knows someone dealing with mental health issues, for a wide variety of different reasons. Given that, you’d think people would want to make sure they knew the proper way to respond, and support people around them. And yet, that is not the case.

I hope by sharing this types of articles, we can help teach people how to be supportive, and that more people will recognize the need to be.

If You Want to Help Protect People From Suicide, Stop Telling Them ‘You’re Fine’ | TheBlaze.com