There are days when everything seems too much. But what if these days become the norm? When getting up becomes a challenge, and your own smile is just a facade?
Mental illnesses have long ceased to be a fringe phenomenon. They are right among us – quiet, often unrecognized, sometimes ridiculed or dismissed with "it'll pass." And that's exactly the problem, as with many other illnesses – those that aren't obvious.
We often wish we could do more. Help more, donate more, raise more awareness. But even if it's not enough yet – we try. With words, with pictures, with actions. And this post is a small part of that.
Mental Health – No Longer a Side Issue
Mental health affects us all – regardless of age, origin, or social status. Unlike a broken hand, you can't see depression, anxiety disorders, or borderline. And that's why they are often ignored or not taken seriously.
It's not about prioritizing mental illnesses over physical ones – cancer, heart disease, or autoimmune diseases claim lives daily, which is tragic.
There should be no competition, that's important for me to say; every illness, whether physical or mental, is terrible in its own way and subjectively particularly bad or tangible for the person affected. But emotional suffering doesn't disappear just because we don't see it.
The Hard Numbers – And What They Mean
To make it more tangible:
-
There are 3.5 million alpacas worldwide.
-
80 times more people suffer from depression.
-
22 times more people are affected by borderline.
-
Every year, 700,000 people die by suicide – that's 1 person for every 5 alpacas in the world.
Do these comparisons sound absurd? Perhaps. But maybe that's exactly how it can be made more comprehensible.
Why Many Still Remain Silent
Because they are afraid. Afraid of being labeled. Of hearing: "You just need to pull yourself together." Because they don't want to be seen as weak. Because sometimes they don't understand what's happening to them. Or they simply can't explain it in words.
And because in many families, companies, and media, the topic of "mental health" at best runs quietly – or is ignored. This is not universally true, certainly, but it still happens too often.
You Are Not Alone – And Together We Are Loud
Mental illnesses are not the problem of individuals – but an issue that affects all of us – some more directly, or indirectly through the illnesses of friends or family. Let's stop being silent. Let's be loud together. For all those who are fighting. For all those who suffer in silence. And for a society where mental health finally gets the place it deserves.
Because no – it is not just a bad day.
