When we talk about depression, it is necessary to understand that it is not just a bad mood. This is a terrible disease.

Personally, I made a kind of association for myself a few years ago. Depression is like cancer. If this disease is not treated, it slowly leads a person to death, like cancer cells. In 2022, there will be five years of my struggle with depression. I was diagnosed with this when I was 12-13 years old. Depression does not evaporate, it should not be treated like cold. And depression has no face.

I can talk about this based on my own life experience and the experience of my friends. We are all hostages of this disease, and everyone is trying to get free. We are desperately trying not to drown. Depression has quite a lot of causes, and there are several types of people who live with it. The first type are people who do not even realize that they are sick. They consider their condition normal, justify it with laziness, procrastination, because it's hard for people to admit that they are sick. The second type are people who understand the existence of a problem, but do not understand its causes. Because of this, they cannot fully assess and understand their condition. The third type are people who understand and recognize their diagnosis, identify its causes and are trying to fight. The fourth type are people who are almost completely overcame by depression. These people understand that they are sick, but they don't want to be treated because they don't see the point in it. Depression is not just a bad mood. Society has a stereotype: depression is not a disease. It's just laziness. This is just a "weak-weak-willed" person. For this reason, many patients unknowingly begin to be ashamed of their diagnosis, because they are afraid. Because we are afraid of condemnation and misunderstanding.

People with depression can smile. And we smile. We laugh, joke and spend time with our friends and family. But behind this smile there is a very strong mental pain, and people around most often do not notice it. Depression has no face, and everyone needs to understand this.

I've been listening to “Linkin Park” for many years and I really love this band. On July 20, 2017, I was shocked by the news of the death of Chester Bennington. I remember that they started writing it in all the news, and I even left a comment, asking people to stop lying and spreading fake information. But then it was officially was confirmed... Several years have passed. I’ve performed with Chester's songs couple of times. His voice continues to sound in my headphones, and sometimes it seems to me that he is still alive. But the man is no more. Chester committed suicide. Just a week before, his wife had been sharing photos on social media. Chester was smiling, hugging his wife and his children. He looked happy, but he was already dead inside. No one saw it. No one even suspected that something might be wrong. After Chester's death, his wife launched an online flashmob, which is called the same as my essay — "depression has no face". Millions of people around the world shared their stories on social media. Millions of people admitted that in the evening they have fun at parties with friends, and at night they think about suicide. Millions of people have admitted practicing self-harm because their mental pain is unbearable. Millions of people have admitted that terrible, all-consuming pain can hide behind a smile. This year it will be 6 years since the death of Chester Bennington. And this is just one story out of thousands. The story about an inner tragedy, about a broken man who hid it all behind a smile.

If people do not understand that the most important thing is sincerity, honesty and caring then those who suffer from mental disorders will continue to live in torment that can lead to death. We need to be close to each other, we need to hear each other.

Depression has no face. Don't let your loved ones drown in the sea of sadness. Give them a hand. Even if it seems that everything is in perfect order — do not leave the person alone. Let them know that they are not alone. 

Let us know that someone needs us.

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