From darkness to light
A daughter's response to her father's pain:
by Gayanthi Hapuarachchi
It is a word which for many of us has lost all flavour. Very much
like the word "literally", we use words such as "depressed" "depression"
"depressing" with no appreciation of the weight of those words. Most of
us would concur that at some point of our lives we have felt depressed.
Many would even suggest life itself is, well, rather depressing! After
all... isn't it just another transitory mood such as "happy" "anger"
"jealousy" "boredom"? Isn't it "normal" to feel depressed?
Depression
is not transitory. It is not a fleeting state of mind which can be
vanquished by a wild night out or the latest expensive gadget.
Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of
sadness and loss of interest.
Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it
affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of
emotional and physical problems. Victims of depression are like victims
of cancer or leukaemia; the only real distinguishing factor is the
former suffers from a mental illness and the later from a physical.
Unfortunately, victims of depression are often not given the same
level of care, empathy or sympathy as those suffering from a long term
physical sickness. In Sri Lanka and other parts of the world, there is a
stigmatisation against victims of depression and people with mental
illnesses in general.
Those suffering from depression are often not looked upon as victims,
deserving of attention and guidance but as 'weak' people unable to cope
with the harshness of reality. Not only do we refuse to acknowledge they
suffer from a legitimate illness but by doing so we deny them any
channel or mode of recovery.
But why is this problem deserving of our attention? A local daily has
reported that according to the World Health Organisation (WHO),
depression will be the second most important medical disease worldwide
by the year 2020.
According to the WHO in 2006 almost 400,000 Sri Lankans experienced a
serious mental disorder. In some areas depression was reported as high
as a quarter of the population.
Suicide rates in Sri Lanka are among the highest in the world
according to a WHO report in 2008 (conservative estimate: 24 per
100,000).
It is these dire problems surrounding the victims of depression which
the Sri Lankan charity organisation 'From Darkness to Light' aims to
tackle.
Founded by Pavani Muthumala, in honour of her late father Wasantha
Muthumala, the charity hopes to shine attention to the topic of
depression and how those suffering from it should be given a supportive
framework instead of being stigmatised.
Here is an interview with Pavani Muthumala:
Q:What was your inspiration to start your charity?
A: My father was a person suffering from depression and he
committed suicide.
That is what made me think of starting something for people with
depression and to make them feel they are not alone. In Sri Lanka mental
illnesses are not really recognised.
Most of the people who came to his funeral didn't even know about a
disorder called depression. I couldn't save my father but I want to save
at least ten lives.
Q: Why did you call your charity 'From Darkness to Light'?
A: In our society, normally people with mental illnesses are
stigmatised. They are often known as being 'possessed'.
Our charity name 'From Darkness to Light' means bringing that
unspoken taboo subject to the light and telling people that it is not
something abnormal or extraordinary. It is something like cancer- the
only difference is this is not physical.
Q: What is the future plan for 'From Darkness to Light'?
A: We are hoping to financially support the poor who are
suffering from depression who are unable to buy medicine, as depression
is a costly disorder. Furthermore, we are hoping to conduct awareness
seminars in universities and schools.
Q: How can people contribute to your charity?
A: They could help us by donating money when we open up a bank
account in my father's name to help poor people. Also if volunteers can
get permission from their workplaces, universities and schools for us to
conduct seminars it would be great.
Q: Do you have any personal message for those suffering from
depression? Or any message for those people whose loved ones suffer from
depression?
A: Depression is not something to be scared of or afraid of.
It is a sickness like fever, its normal. Whenever you feel down or you
feel like ending your life... just think about the best things in life
that are yet to be achieved. Keep your hand near your heart and feel
that beat. Living is not going to be easy for any of us. We gotta fight.
Everyone is a warrior. Don't let depression control your life you take
control of it and after all every life is worth living.
...and to the loved ones who is close to a person suffering
depression.
They might get aggressive. They might have moods. Whatever it is,
just cope with it and be very helpful. Always show them that you are
there. Always be with them when they need you.
- The International Cauldron |