- Hi, I'm Anna Akana, and I'm so excited
to be collaborating with Elle today on a topic
that I'm very passionate about.
For those of you who don't know me,
I'm a very vocal advocate for mental health awareness
and suicide prevention, especially in teens.
And as someone who has struggled with clinical depression
and anxiety for the past 10 years,
it never fails to amaze me when people offer
you unsolicited advice on how to get over being depressed.
Some of my absolute favorites are,
Ooh, have you tried going vegan?
The assumption that your genetic depression comes
from your diet is such a great leap, you guys.
Look everyone gets sad sometimes.
It'll pass.
You're right, my brain chemistry's imbalance is mostly due
to the six planets currently in retrograde.
My sad mood will totally pass with the moon.
Thank you.
You know what you should really do is affirmations
the morning and evening, and think positively.
Ah, you're right, the negative voices
in my head are totally voluntary.
I'm just choosing the wrong things to think and feel.
Duh.
You know, it's all in your head.
Um, yeah, that's the exact definition of mental illness.
Oh, I mean, you don't seem like you're depressed.
I'm so sorry, I didn't realize that
you had x-ray emotional vision.
You know, you don't need medication to cure depression,
there's lots of natural ways you can go about it.
Oh, are you a doctor?
Would you like to tell me more about that?
And also show me your medical degree?
When someone discloses their mental illness to you,
offering up solutions or unsolicited advice
only serves to dismiss the mentally ill person's pain.
Most attempts at fixing someone,
it's actually a very selfish thing to do,
because you're uncomfortable with their pain.
And the strange thing with mental illness is
that it's the only sickness where people feel
that like they're qualified to give you advice.
Like if I say I have leukemia or an autoimmune disease,
no one is gonna tell me to go vegan.
But you know there are things that you can
and should say that will alleviate the suffering
of a mentally ill person, things like,
I don't understand, but I'm here for you.
How can I help?
Wow, that sounds rough.
Would you like to talk about it?
And just plain attempting,
trying to understand with empathy.
Thank you so much to Elle for having me,
and if you're struggling mental illness of any kind,
I urge you to seek professional help,
and surround yourself with kind-hearted people
who get it.
I'm Anna Akana.
Bye.