Thinking about the time when the whole country was locked down in their home and their mind. We only had internet and household chores to keep us busy. If I can remember, the hot topic at that time was COVID vaccine and depression, more like a trendy topic for social media. We all know that the 'depression' topic was just a temporary wave of awareness because now I just get to read articles of the people who lost their battle to depression just because when they needed someone the most at that time everyone was busy. 

It's not the fault of people around a depressed person to not give attention to his suffering because people simply use the term "depression" in day-to-day life without even knowing the real meaning behind that. Depression is just like any other serious health issue which needs utmost attention and care. People with depression often feel helpless for asking for help from their loved ones and just start feeling useless. The starting stage makes you realize that you are not worth anything and that every other person is living a happier life than you are. This makes you feel negative throughout your day and this feeling keeps on increasing where you find yourself at a stage when even professional treatment shows no result. 

People often perceive seeing a happy person that he is living his best life but no one knows the reality and pain of his life behind that smile. During the COVID-19 times when depression was a hot topic, it helped many people to realize its true meaning. Soon it became a social media trending topic and everyone started posting about it, but as we know it was just a temporary topic for people. Soon this issue started fading away from people's lives. 

It's not easy for a person facing problems to ask for someone to help him out because they don't realize that they are suffering from something that just makes matters worse when they are battling alone. Also, the mindset of people has this feeling that this is not a real problem but just an illusion that will go away with time so sharing this thing feels embarrassing for them. We can't blame the patient for feeling this way because most people have seen a childhood where if we used to complain about our mental anxiety regarding anything parents would just ignore that and start blaming us that it's just one of our tricks to escape the situation. But in today's world, depression has increased so much, especially among the young generation. The race to become a topper, get an excellent job, become the best employee, these things have started playing with our minds so much that our mental health is deteriorating day by day. 

We can't help a person first as long as he doesn't ask for help because mental health problems can only be known if the patient accepts that he is suffering from that. But for this,  awareness is very important to raise among the people, to make them realize that asking for help is not something to be ashamed of and that mental health problem is as serious as other health problems. For this schools should start including chapters on mental health awareness for students of young age so that they don't have to struggle alone when they grow up. All schools and colleges should also hire professional therapists or counselors for students so that students can get help without any hesitation. The government should start creating awareness by doing mental health campaigns and workshops in every city twice a year. They should also establish free clinics for all the people who need help. Along with this telephonic help can also be provided where a professional can help overcome a person's problem from the other side. Since social media is the most famous tool now, apps like Instagram and Facebook should create a group online where they can release videos, forms, quotes, and activities for people with mental health problems. 

Along with all these solutions for a depressed person, it's also important to educate other people on this topic. As long as other people in the surroundings don't stop being insensitive towards these people no solution can help overcome this problem. It's our responsibility as a society to show proper behavior and not make fun of their problem making their health worse than it is already. The surroundings of a patient play a big role in making him stable again in his life. 

We need to realize that depression is not a made-up thing by a person to escape from his responsibilities but a real and concerning health problem that can affect him mentally and physically destroying his future. It can make a person feel worse on such a level that he is not even able to realize what is reality and illusion. He starts losing himself to such an extent that the only solution that is visible to him is ending his life. We all can help fight depression if we start providing the right kind of help and being a little responsible while dealing with people with mental health problems. 

Let's educate people with little or no knowledge of this problem so that they don't make the mistake of taking it lightly. Just a small step toward mental health awareness can save so many lives. Let's take the oath of raising our voices to ask for help and to provide help. Let's make a future where people help each other overcome their issues by being responsible fellow citizens and just not neglecting those people just because they are strangers. 

A small step of yours to help a depressed person can save his life and make him the real version of himself. Let's join hands for a better future living surroundings because I am ready to take the step of being a responsible fellow human. Are you?

DEPRESSION IS NOT AN ILLUSION OF THE BRAIN, BUT A REALITY OF THE PERSON SUFFERING FROM THAT.

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