Time to Help Make a Change

Since the death of Robin Williams, I feel that there has been more verbalization about the impact depression and suicide has on people. Just the other day, I had to write a story at work about a new study that hit pretty close to home.

In earlier posts, I discussed how I never realized that the constant chatter in my head was not normal. I always was thinking about the past, about the future, dwelling on the tiniest things 24/7. The study found that young adults who had suffered depression when they were younger, were found to have "hyper-connectivity" between their emotional and cognitive parts of their brains. Basically meaning they over think things, without ever finding a solution. Not only that, but in people who have previously suffered from depression, it increases their chances of their depression reoccurring.

This all completely made sense to me. Why? Because this has been the way I have lived my entire life. I constantly over thought things. Never let things go. Always tried to find a solution to problems that weren't solvable. Even thinking about how if I had just done something different in the past, maybe my circumstances would be different now.

The really good thing though, the researchers who found this correlation in the brain of depressed people believe they can use it to better understand the illness. Even find new ways to predict, prevent, and treat depression.

All of this constant attention on the issue of depression lately has made me really want to get out there and do what I can to help others. I obviously am taking the time to speak about my journey here with all of you, but I want to do more.

Everyone has been doing the ALS Ice Bucket Challenges lately, and the organization has had an astronomical amount of donations coming in. Then I saw this:

Yes, each of these illnesses is serious. Yes, they all deserve their donations. But it was the difference between deaths to donations that got me. There is barely anything going to suicide prevention. We need to do more than just share the Suicide Prevention Hotline for people to call. More must be done.

That's when it hit me. I want to help raise money for mental illness research. Looking around I found the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The AFSP is the leading national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide. This was just what I was looking for. 

Through their website, I was able to find several walks near my home that I can participate in to help the cause. Sadly, all the walks this year are when I'm scheduled to work. There is one event I have requested information for, and I really hope I can participate. It is the "Out of the Darkness Overnight." They choose two cities each year, one from each coast, and thousands of people take to the streets to walk 16-18 miles. The walk goes through the night, from dusk until dawn. It is meant to "help break the silence and bring the issues of depression and suicide into the light."

This is what I want to do. The walks may be done for this year, but I signed up to be sent information for when next year's walks are finalized. I want to help others like me get the help they need. See that even the person with a smile all the time, is in just as much pain if not more than those who outwardly show their suffering. I've been there. I understand. I am making my mission to help. One day at a time.