Depression becomes a more serious global concern after it was reported by World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the leading causes of death among people.

Fortunately, it is treatable but the government fails to deliver promised funding for mental health in budget. However, how can we help them to overcome his/her persistent depressive disorder?

Depression, as described by WHO, is long lasting and a recurrent mental disorder associated with sadness, loss of interest, low self-worth, disturbed sleep and appetite, tiredness, and poor concentration.

It is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act.

Misconceptions, most people believe that depression is just a feeling of sadness or sorry for oneself, and that it is not an illness but merely a mental weakness brought by traumatic events. When in fact, it is a deep feeling of low interest and self-esteem, unpredictable mood swings, and eating and sleep disturbance.

The air of melancholy surrounds not only the frail and alone, but also the mankind of all races.

Calling depressed people as good as actors and actresses of their own theatrical work is solely a mental disgrace that adds to their seemingly inevitable problem. People who mock the sufferers are more likely to appear as the social hypocrites.

Meanwhile, students and teachers fall under the bracket of people most prone to depression. As part of this, neither I nor you can suffer. It affects one’s academic skills as it cripples cognitive functions that manage intricate tasks such as learning, reasoning, comprehension, and the ability to focus. Thus, it leaves a huge impact not only physically, mentally, and socially, but also to educational aspects.

Unfortunately, people only become engaged on the issue when it already distresses someone close to them, a high profile, or even themselves. On the worst side, every one cares only when one has already shot a bullet through his head, cut wrist, ingested a toxic chemical or hanged himself.

This mental condition restrains to the point that one just stares at a devastated space and drowns from the depths of despair, while others laugh at them, making the shame triggers by calling them “hibang”

Experiencing this condition, sleepless nights due to sadness and hopelessness and tried taking several dosages of sleeping pills but it was not an escape or even an answer. Many people cared but did not really understand.

Depression is not a scientific drama but a serious matter that must be paid attention to. Talking about it is a single, yet a wide leap towards its treatment.

The world will never know what’s behind the two words “I’m okay” if humanity is deaf and heartless. By being someone willing to listen, the world can save lives of people silently battling with depression.

How can we solve the problem?

Campaigns are nothing without sufficient funding. As depression becomes one of the leading contributors to ill health worldwide, World Health Organization (WHO) heartens people through high-points campaigns as wake up call for humanity. However, there is no, or very little support available for mental health. More importantly, failure to act is relatively costly.

Moreover, DOH together with Department of Education (DepEd) provides an education in emotional wellness since students and even teachers are most inclined to depression. It will also help them cope up with stress and possibly to lower the suicide rates.

If there is a case of depression, we need to refer them to mental health care professionals to help them cope up with the said illness. And after several processes of medication, guidance counseling is truly significant.

The issue about depression seems to be a tough battle as it retrogrades due to low immersion of government around the world. As a result, the global economic loss rises along with the number of depressed people.

Presently, there is not enough support allotted to mental health. The least people could do is to listen to the melancholia of the depressed as they find someone to lean on, which is the first step towards treatment. If funds can’t, maybe ears can.