Mental health is so important, yet it’s still so overlooked and I’m constantly asking why. Apart from the obvious reasons, why is it much easier to overlook someone suffering from depression than to overlook someone that has a broken bone, even though depression has longer lasting, more devastating effects than a broken bone. Part of the reason why is because of this “seeing is believing” attitude many people have. They tend to think that someone suffering from depression or any kind of mental disorder will show the symptoms very obviously, but this does not normally happen until it's too late and they've done something harmful to themselves or others. In fact, because of the stigma around mental health many will continue to suffer in silence.

Your local librarian, he could be suffering from depression.

That girl you always see at the gym, she could have bipolar disorder.

Your best friend, they could be struggling with an eating disorder.

Mental disorders manifest themselves in different ways, and a lack of familiarity with the symptoms of the disorders and a lack of familiarity with the disorders themselves are a big part of the reason why so many individuals continue to suffer in silence when all they need is someone willing to help them get the professional help they need. We must get rid of the harmful thinking that having a mental disorder makes someone less of a human being. We need to have more open conversations about mental health and how to help our loved ones that may be suffering in the background of our everyday lives.

I have social anxiety and despite having the symptoms most of my life, I’ve only recently come to know what it is. The reason being that mental health wasn’t something talked about much in my family or our community and I’m fighting to change that.

How many more celebrities, friends, family members, coworkers, classmates need to die before we start taking mental health more seriously? The answer should be zero. We should no longer need to lose precious lives to mental illnesses. Help them get the help they need and support them through their especially difficult times, and if you feel like you can’t be the support they need, direct them to someone who can. Trust me, they’ll appreciate your honesty and the help you’re offering them. Above all, remember that there is hope and help for you or whoever you know that is suffering from a mental or emotional disorder.