Mental Health Crisis

Mental Health Crisis

Kaya Wilkowski, Reporter

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States with cases rising every year, but what causes people to harm themselves? Suicidal thoughts most commonly stem from depression and anxiety, with around 3.8% of the population affected by depression and 4% suffer from anxiety. With so many people suffering, it should be one of the most urgent topics in today’s society, but depression and anxiety are looked down on, making it hard to reach out for help.

Depression is a mood disorder that causes constant feelings of sadness and loss of interest in activities you normally enjoy. It affects how you feel, think, and behave, and can lead to a variety of emotional problems. It makes simple daily tasks such as bathing, eating, sleeping, and getting out of bed in general challenging. People with depression tend to self-isolate and feel like no one understands what they are going through. It can become hard to make friends, have conversations, and socialize.

Anxiety is a disorder that can cause you to feel fear or worry in everyday situations that are generally safe. People who have anxiety often feel left out or have low self-worth. It may feel like everyone is watching your every move when in reality nobody turns an eye to it. Signs of anxiety can come in such forms as fidgeting, feeling shaky or uncomfortable in new environments, having trouble speaking, and/or stuttering. Anxiety affects people in a way that doing stuff such as going to the grocery store, school, public events, or just hanging out with friends can become excruciatingly difficult.

If you think a loved one may suffer from depression or anxiety, reach out to them and let them know you are a safe person for them to reach out to. If you are having suicidal thoughts you can call the suicide hotline at (800) 273-8255.