People who suffered from depression around the turn of the century were oftentimes committed to sanitariums and persecuted by both loved ones and the medical profession for their “down” feelings no one seemed to understand. Suicide rates were high as life was harder in those days and previous, and the combination of devastating events with the inability to seek help from professionals, led to the demise of many struggling with clinical depression. Unfortunately, patients with this common mental illness still suffer occasional mistreatment and regular misunderstanding from the public. Why is it that depression struggles to be accepted by the mainstream, and at the same time, what improvements have been made we should all be grateful for?

Everyone endures pain and suffering in life, but those with clinical depression experience mental anguish for weeks (even months) at a time. Perhaps one of the reasons clinical depression is difficult for the public to grasp, is due to our society’s “suck it up” attitude. We expect people to pull themselves up by the boot straps and deal with their own issues without the assistance of others. However, depressed individuals are unfortunately unable to do that. This mental illness can be so debilitating that many begin to cease functioning with even the simplest of life’s tasks such as dressing, showering, and eating. The social stigma of depression causes people suffering from it to feel even more isolated, which in turn furthers the public’s judgment of the disease, since its victims are judging themselves the most harshly.

Another reason depression has not gotten the attention it deserves, is because of fear. The depressed individual is fearful of seeking help, and their loved ones are scared to see someone they care about in such a weak and compromised state. Those who have the support they need, still often do not seek professional help, as the mental health industry has so many hoops to jump through, the patient often does not have the energy nor motivation to seek out treatment.

The bright side of this all? Those who do pursue treatment have plenty of options. More than ever, depressed people have resources to take advantage of. Talk therapy, both individually and within a group, have long been a treatment method. Prescription medication is another popular alternative. However there are other options.

Herbal remedies have become a popular solution in recent years, mainly due to the fact many psychotropic prescription meds can have adverse physical side effects after years of usage. Instead, herbal supplements have been found to be able to control cases of mild to moderate depression. One herb with impressive results is St. John’s Wort. This is available over the counter and does not have the risk of liver and kidney damage that some prescription drugs still carry. Users of St. John’s Wort have experienced a decrease in their level of anxiety, depressive episodes, and even frequency of suicidal thoughts. 

Other herbal remedies and alternative treatments such as meditation and prayer have also been proven to help depression. Many people are turning to these new outlooks of treatment to avoid both the health risk and the stigma.

What can you do if someone you know is suffering from depression? The most important thing you can do is to be a listening and encouraging ear. Depressed people often cannot be “cheered up”, however you can remind them consistently they are loved and supported. Another action you are capable of is to never take suicidal threats as insignificant. Many suicidal depressives could have been saved if people had taken their words seriously. The majority of suicide victims either shared their intentions with someone or had written up a letter or plan of execution. Don’t ever take suicide lightly. Lastly, you can support your depressed loved one by offering to be a companion as they seek help. Offer to take them to the doctor, join them for a therapy session, or accompany them to the pharmacy followed by a fun lunch date out. Showing unconditional love and support to a depressed individual can make a world of difference – in both theirs and yours.

Websites like Healthsphere have a wealth of videos and information regarding depression, which can work to educate yourself and be prepared to help your loved one in the best ways possible!