Recently, there has been an outpouring of support from people in general. All over the place - social media, newspapers - you name it. It's understandable, given the recent global events. But it got me thinking about how effective it really is.
Don't get me wrong - I am all for support. But action may also be required. Real action, not just cursory and superficial gestures.
The reason I write about this is because I see messages of support directed at people who suffer from mental illness. In Australia, we have Mental Health Week and R U OK Day. We have television programs to explain what mental health issues are and we get to see how it affects people. And just recently, I saw messages of support on social media urging people to re-tweet a post "in support of someone who suffers from depression".
I was a recipient of this urging. It both surprised and upset me.
I suffer from depression. Deep and consuming depression, which I have been managing for most of my life with a great deal of effort. And if you read this blog, you'll know that I have recently started to talk about it, to let people know and to see if my experiences can help someone who is suffering from depression so as not to feel alone, or to help the carer or loved one of a sufferer to understand some of what they are going through.
Whilst I acknowledge the best intentions of that tweet (and the urging for all and sundry, including myself to re-tweet), given my circumstances I couldn't help but wonder, particularly as I have not had any real dialogue about my depression with the requestor. Surely if they wanted to help someone, they can start with me!
Unfortunately, I feel as thought these messages of support are all cursory and superficial gestures, not backed up with proper action. To me, it appears to be "something to do" so that people can say that "they are doing something about it". All very useful to assuage any bourgeois guilt or to make someone feel better about themselves. But I feel as though they are missing the point.
By all means - rage against the unfairness of the world, the hatred and the callous violence. Rage against disease, whether it is mental or physical. But don't let your rage be hollow. Follow it up with meaningful action. If not, don't rage at all because it serves no one any real good.
Given the statistics, you'll know someone who suffers from mental illness. If you really want to support them, find them and let your actions speak louder than your social media status posts. Shouldn't they always, anyway?
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