Get Over It by Joshua

Get Over It by Joshua - July 2017 Scholarship Essay

If I were asked to give a TED talk it would be over the impact of depression on an individual and the people who surround them. I would also cover the damaging affects that take place when someone who is uniformed on mental illness says something similar to; "get over it", "just be happy", or "some people have it worse than you." Another point I would make is ways to manage depression as well as the steps you should take if you believe you or someone you know may depressed or suicidal. Informing people of the right way to handle situations can save the life of yourself or someone you know and care for. It can also be challenging for those without depression to relate and it would be extremely beneficial to teach them the importance of being supportive and understanding towards someone with depression.

The reason for my choice is my personal experience with mental illness. I have dealt with the adverse effects of depression and seen first hand how dangerous the illness can be as well as how damaging it can be to have people belittle you for it. It is extremely important to raise awareness to depression and how to prevent it from deepening or ultimately leading to the loss of a life. I personally have seen the worst parts of depression and would not want anyone to feel like they cannot manage it or help someone else who may just need support.