Someone around you right now could be fighting an internal battle you could never have guessed. It could be the stranger sitting next to you on the bus, a family member, or your best friend.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States affecting 18 percent of the population. Of that number, 6.7 percent of adults will experience depression in some form at some point in their lives and three to five percent deal with major depression.

With so many people that suffer from depression why is it so looked down upon? Why do people not take it seriously? The phrases, “people have it worse than you” or “just go do something and you’ll feel better” are all too common but detrimental to someone dealing with major depression that affects their day to day life and may even drive them to commit suicide.

Be kind to everyone you meet. Take them seriously when they seem to be acting differently or if they tell you that something is wrong. Let the people you love know that you are there for them and that they are not alone.

You never know what people are really going through and your words and actions towards them can be the difference between life and death.