Recognise depression

I am writing this right after I have returned from the Namaz-e-janaza of Zeheen Ahmed, a 27 year old man who committed suicide yesterday (July 22). He was a musician, a guitarist and son of Manam Ahmed, an eminent musician of our country who has asked everyone to pray for the departed soul and pleaded everyone to look after the youth, particularly those who are in need. I really don’t know why I’ve been asked to write about this. I’m neither a psychologist nor an expert in suicide, but I do know that depression is not just a word; and that, the well being of one’s mental health does matter. It exists and has the ability to mess up our inner peace, and sometimes it becomes brutal enough to claim innocent souls. In 1986, a couple sued Ozzy Osbourne, holding him responsible for their teenage son’s suicide. They claimed their son committed suicide apparently after listening to “Suicide Solution,” a song Ozzy recorded after he left Black Sabbath in 1980. It was a terrible case of misinterpretation - the song doesn’t suggest that committing suicide is the solution. Rather, the song is about the dangers of using drugs and alcohol and how one could end up killing oneself. I heard a few people complaining about having a depressing childhood, but they didn’t take their own lives for that! I would like to thank them for being so mature about it, and know that not everyone is as fortunate as they are. Not everyone can fight these negative feelings and overcome on their own. It is disheartening to see certain people trying to connect Zaheen’s death with the recent suicides of international musical legends. Their obnoxious argument suggests that the suicides might have triggered the incident. Everyday, hundreds of people suffering from depression attempt to commit suicide but we refrain from talking about them. We are only talking about this because Zeheen was a musician and the son of a well-known musical personality. Let’s be sensitive to those who are fighting depression. If they are showing signs of depression, even though it seems dramatic, talk to them about it. Please don’t ignore it and let them think that it’ll heal with time. Help them out before it’s too late. Depressed people tend to do reckless things out of frustration and suicide is one of those. Remember, depression is the killer for a lost soul who has already died silently so many times before. They are not necessarily open to their family members, so be a friend, and stand by them whenever you can. Be there for them, talk to them whenever necessary. Because you never know, just few minutes of your time and positive attitude can really save a wandering soul. Let’s talk about it, let us share our feelings…