Yesterday, October 10th, was World Mental Health Day. Celebrities from Deepika Padukone to Kristen Bell, Emma Stone to Dwayne Johnson and Prince Harry have spoken up about the importance of a fighting the stigma that depression is still shrouded in.
Today, thanks to the open dialogue encouraged by mental health professionals and celebrities, depression and anxiety are being recognised as medical conditions. Not whimsical ‘moods’ that people will eventually ‘get over’.
And then, there’s this special category of people. You know, the ones who think depression is just a phase that shall pass if you just think happy thoughts! Author Reno Omokri is one of them, and therefore, decided to tweet this:
Are you depressed? Ask yourself these questions:
* Do you have a home?
* Do you have food?
* Are you healthy?
* Do you have family?It people who dont have these can be happy, then what reason do you have to be depressed? You are more blessed than half of humanity #RenosNuggets
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) September 24, 2018
Just to spell it out, the man has gone ahead and shamed people suffering from depression by pointing out how they’ve got it so much better than people without basic necessities like food, shelter, health and family!
That coming from a verified account is just disappointing!
No wonder Omokri and his tweet were severely blasted on Twitter for being highly ignorant and encouraging the stigma around depression.
Depression has got nothing to do with being ‘blessed’. We’ve all seen that even the most rich and famous are as afflicted by this mental illness as the regular people are.
TBH, this tweet is depressing!
Honestly, tweets like this isn't helpful to people who are depressed.
— Justice Gilbert Jr. (@JusticeGilbertJ) September 24, 2018
It’s not just ‘being sad’, you dunce!
https://twitter.com/Music_Man_Mike/status/1046510833092587521
Depression = Not healthy. Therefore, argument’s not valid!
https://twitter.com/hanactive/status/1046498946275835904
This outrage is so, so justified. Is there any font louder than caps?
THE REASON I HAVE TO BE DEPRESSED IS A NEUROTRANSMITTER IMBALANCE YOU ABSOLUTE SHIT-STAINED TOILET BOWL OF A PERSON
— Kyle 🌱 (@KylePlantEmoji) October 1, 2018
#SickNotWeak
The assumption that depression is a choice is what makes mental illness stigma flourish. My brain is sick – it lies to me and convinces me that home, family, and food are filled with darkness and sadness. I’m #SickNotWeak
— Natalie Harris (Personal Account) (@ParamedicNat1) October 1, 2018
Here’s a questionnaire right back at you, Mr. Omokri! And we bet, all your answers are ‘yes’!
ask yourself these questions:
* does your brain reuptake serotonin at a normal and consistent rate
* does your hippocampus undergo regular neurogenesis
* are you a stupid motherfucker who pretends to know about any of this while spouting nonsense— Quarantine Goth Ms. Frizzle (@spookperson) September 30, 2018
This is clealy insulting.
Ah yes, because people who are depressed have clearly never considered any of this and don't often feel guilty, confused about and/or ashamed of their mental state already.
This is about one step up from "have you tried thinking happy thoughts?". It's insulting.
— Caraid (@CaraidArt) September 30, 2018
Disclaimer: “This guy is a f****** t**”
to anyone who has the misfortune to read this tweet: don’t worry! it’s nonsense! you can’t cure depression with gratitude. it’s a mental illness. it ignores circumstance & fact. this guy is a fucking tit. please disregard his words. you’re working hard to be here & that’s enough
— the mask tweet was a joke stop yelling (@imteddybless) October 1, 2018
The ONLY takeaway from this tweet that’s worth remembering.
You may as well have tweeted “I have a very limited understanding of mental health,” because that’s the only message I get from this tweet.
— Mae ☮ (@sockittwomey) October 1, 2018
I’m sure if you’re not as tactless and clueless as this guy, you’re seething with rage at his ridiculousness too.
But considering that the same guy tweets shit like this….
Dear women
When men have sex with you,they deposit some of their personality in you through their discharge. Having multiple men discharge into you negatively affects your psyche and personality. God designed women to be recipients of only their husband’s discharge #RenosNuggets
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) February 12, 2018
… I guess we can just choose to ignore him.
Let’s fight the stigma. Let’s talk about it. Let’s listen. Mental health is important and it is not your fault you are depressed, can’t ask for help or taking time to come out of it. Period.