Just believe people, man. Depressed people smile. They joke. They even occasionally be happy. Depression isn't a mood, it's a disorder. It doesn't go away, it just hides in the background.

#mentalhealthawareness #depression #suicideprevention #mentalhealthmatters #youmatter
#Endthestigma
#selfcare

I guess the point of this message into the void is just for me to open up, even if no one sees it. I've been trained to not talk about my mental health or feelings to the point I'm scared to even ask people for help finding a therapist. Just be receptive to the people you care about.

Idk, maybe it's a Midwestern/Southern thing, but even posting this and being vulnerable has me nervous that someone I actually know will see it (I don't think I know anyone irl that uses this app, but idk) and get asked about it in person because I straight up don't know how to open up anymore irl.

It's self-preservation to act okay when you're not. Particularly for men; while women will get absolutely ignored and overlooked the same way or worse with some groups to whom they open up, but men get outright ridiculed for showing any semblance of perceived weakness by men and women alike.

People will say these things and then wonder how someone could go and kill themselves.

"They didn't act depressed", "they never said anything to me", "they seemed so happy"

Yeah, we do what we have to so the people we love will love us back, but that mask only wears so long before falling off.

Telling someone "don't talk like that" says you're not taking it seriously when they're talking about things that are so serious, they're ready to die over it. It's unpleasant to talk about, sure. Now imagine living with those thoughts constantly. Don't be reductive, have the hard conversations.

Telling someone it's selfish to want to die sends a message that you think them being suicidal is a cry for attention. It's not. It's a cry for help. It's being extremely vulnerable, and with that response, you're basically calling a bluff when they ain't bluffing.