People are sharing pictures to prove that depression isn’t always visible

When we think of depression, we tend to picture someone who cries a lot, who isolates themselves from others or who is barely able to get out of bed or function normally. But these stereotypes aren’t necessarily accurate.

The reality is that depression can be very hard to detect, especially as many people with depression work hard to present a happy face to the world. They don’t want to be a burden, so they focus all of their effort on hiding their overwhelming sadness and emptiness.

Unfortunately, as a result, these people often do not get the help they need. In an effort to change this and to educate people that depression can take many different faces, there is a new viral movement called the #faceofdepression.

People with depression share photos and videos with the hashtag, as do those who have lost loved ones to suicide. And here’s the most shocking part: Most of the photos show happy, smiling people. You would never know that the person in the picture was hiding inside of themselves pain, hopelessness and a sense of worthlessness.

https://twitter.com/marigh97/status/915388077673205760

One of the most touching videos comes from the wife of Chester Bennington, a talented artist and family man who recently took his life after a battle with depression. The video, taken just 36 hours before the Linkin Park singer committed suicide, shows him laughing and goofing off with his kids… a far cry from the stereotypical image we have of a depressed person crying alone in bed.

Many other people have shared their own personal photos in the hopes of changing the misconception that shrouds depression, misconceptions that can prevent people from getting help, and which lead to untreated mental illness and even suicide:

https://twitter.com/erikutriku/status/914113644874649601

As you can see, depression has many faces.

https://twitter.com/ResignInShame/status/641789907061485568

https://twitter.com/iamcarmenhadid/status/913724386233872384

What a powerful and important message.

Thank you to these brave people for speaking out and helping to end the stigma around depression.

As Agnieszka Ostrowska shared on Facebook: “This is my boyfriend two weeks before hanging himself. Will never understand it… 😢”

Some Instagrammers talked about how depression has no specific look or “face.” In other words, we may not recognize it, even if we’re looking at it.

Instagram user pmhenny eloquently wrote about how depression isn’t always about how bad things are in life.

“I saw a post about #faceofdepression,” she wrote. “Many people have this idea that depression only affects those who “have it bad” or those who get bullied, teased, etc. None of those circumstances apply to me, yet I was still diagnosed with depression. Yes, I am depressed. Yes, I get sad. Yes, I still get happy. Yes, I still enjoy my life. It’s just very hard sometimes.”

It’s truly amazing to see how one topic can be illustrated in so many different and creative ways. Here’s another sketch shared on Instagram focusing on depression.

[h/t: Bored Panda]