October is Mental Health and Depression Awareness Month. During this month, the observance is to bring awareness to Depression, one of the silent killers of Mental Illness. We are asked to recognize the signs and symptoms of the disease, promote and encourage funding in terms of research and treatment, and bring an understanding of the importance of screening. Just like with any illness or disease, early detection will yield better results in terms of healing. Since the pandemic, Depression has become more prevalent in women, especially black women than ever before - this is largely due to the fact that we are the highest amount of sufferers of Post-traumatic stress disorder, and it is most of the time untreated or even recognized as such. 1 in every 10 adults suffer from depression in any given year, and it is the leading cause of disability for ages 15-24. Additionally, it is the primary reason that someone dies every 12 minutes of suicide (41,000 people per year).
In this episode, I will share my own journey with battling depression, as well as give some tips as how to not only combat it, but be a support system. Additionally, I will give some words of encouragement as we continue to navigate through these very uncertain and mostly tumultuous times.