How it started
Two months ago, I woke up to an email from twitter which linked me to a WHO post about World Health Day. For no apparent reason, I clicked that button and I began reading the post. it was about the commemoration of world healthy day with " Depression, Let's talk" as a theme. That time, I wasn't really sure what moved me but I began jolting down ideas inside my mind. My heart was beating so loud and I feel very pumped to share my ideas to my friend.
It was two in the morning, I couldn't wait to simply share my ideas so I quickly texted her at five hoping she would already wake up. My idea was to create a support group where everyone can sit down and listen to each other. I was honestly inspired by an alcoholic anonymous which in my country, there wasn't any of similar project. I was aiming for individual who are dealing with depression to share their journey. The whole reason I came up with that idea is because I see that depression is still seen as low threat problem while it clearly devastating and able to take someone's life away. Also, It was a right moment during the commemoration of world health day and was currently a hot topic after a few recent live streaming suicides due to depression which was linked to bullies.
Fast forward, I told her that I want to create a project and raise an awareness that people has to see depression as a real problem. I began my research about depression and it surprised me how people are actually joking and creating meme about depression and suicide. The more I researched about it, the more I understand that media plays a really important role in introducing so many new terms regarding mental health issue while also shaping people's perspective in seeing the depression itself.
What clearly bothers me while doing the research is that the shocking amount of posts made with hashtags depression and also numerous account promoting suicide and self harm. Even the word depression itself are often said in mockery tone as if it were nothing or mere a joke. look at the number of posts made in instagram with the hashtags.
I began gathering the resources I needed and convinced my faculty to give me place for pitching my idea. I also got help from a professor who was taking an interest in my idea. and Voila! we held a discussion forum concerning the topic through the perspective of popular culture.
Fast forward, I presented my ideas in the forum and I got positive feed backs from the audience. I also had the chance listening people sharing their experience coping up with mental problems. Some were crying inside the room and the atmosphere turned to be gloomy.Then, I tried to crack some not-really -amusing joke but it helped cheering up people.
It turned out great
After I presented my idea, I began promoting my project in my faculty. It amazed me of how so many people were eager to join the community. So right at the day I turned 20, my project was launched and now it's still going on with more people are coming into the meeting every wednesday, sharing stories and their experiences while also empowering and supporting each other.
We couldn't come up with a better name, so we simply named it as " let's talk". It has been growing and currently helping its member coping up with their daily life, well not only that I gained friends, but also I get to see so many different perspective in life. I simply wish that this project can grow more. So many people has suggested me to make it online so they could also share their problems anonymously but I still haven't got time and resources to build a simple forum.
When someone reaches you out, sometimes they needed to be listen. It's not just a simple bad day which will pass, it can be a continuous rainy day. It'll come and go, also truly devastating .I believe that depression can be treated and talking is the first step.
So, that's how I tried contributing for society. I couldn't do much other than trying to help a few people passing through a rough journey. I wish in the future, I could contribute in a bigger scale.