There are healthy options when dealing with depression, like dialing 9-8-8 and speaking with a professional who is trained to help you with issues you are facing.
Major depression is the primary driver of suicide, with a 20% lifetime risk of suicide among untreated patients and a 15% overall risk for those with severe depression.
That’s about 1 in 5 people who may commit suicide because of major depressive disorder. Broken down, the statistics come to a suicide every 11 minutes.
Major Depressive Disorder, more commonly known as clinical depression, is a mood disorder that negatively impacts a person’s life and can lower functionality.
Some common symptoms, as presented by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), are, “Depressed mood – must be present most of the day, nearly every day; mood may be subjective, such as feeling empty or hopeless, or observed by others, markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day, fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day, feeling worthless or having excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day.”
The DSM entry goes on to say: “Guilt may be delusional, not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick, decreased concentration or indecisiveness nearly every day, may be subjective or observed by others, and suicidal ideation or recurrent thoughts of death, no specific suicide plan or attempt.”
Nearly 3 in 10 adults have been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives.
Because of this, many people either know someone going through a mental health battle or may have experienced it personally.
Depression can be draining, and in some severe cases, it can deeply affect life.
Through it all, friends and family, as well as psychiatrists and therapists, are resources to help with the day-to-day.
However, emergencies can happen when friends or family may not be available, or, in some cases, they may not be the best option. That’s where 988 comes in — the suicide crisis hotline.
The beginnings of 988 actually started 25 years ago in 2001, when Congress appropriated funds for a suicide prevention hotline.
They worked hand in hand with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to come up with a network that would establish crisis centers to answer calls from the local community.
In 2005, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline launched with the number 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) and continued to grow. In 2006, they added an option in Spanish, and in 2007, an option for veterans.
In 2018, the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act became law.
It requires a study into designating a three-digit dialing code for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system, which eventually becomes 988.
The 988 is for those who are feeling overwhelmed and need someone to talk to, but it is also there for those who are in crisis.
They are there 24/7 and ready to provide resources and support for any needs. The two most common options are calling or texting.
After dialing 988, there will be a prompt to either stay on the line to speak to a specialist or choose another option for Spanish or veteran support.
Once selected, a trained specialist will pick up and converse to see how they can help.
They will not automatically call the police or 911, but instead, if you’re in a crisis, they will walk you through a safety plan and support.
The process is similar if texting 988 or chatting through their website.
A short survey will be directed to share symptoms and experiences, and after that, a specialist will reach out.
Getting in contact with 988 is fairly simple, and they are another resource in times of feeling overwhelmed and in crisis.
Don’t feel afraid to reach out; sometimes reaching out can be the best option when feeling depressed.
It means not bearing the burden alone and letting another person offer guidance.
Depression is real, and no one is immune to it.
Don’t feel alone — there are resources out there.
