Depression's Mask

Like you, I've read numerous posts and articles this week about depression, suicide, and the tragedy of Robin William's death. Most, if not all, reflected the writer's grief over the loss. I read wise words about the importance of reaching out to give and receive help. Many writers discussed the prevalence of misinformation and the stigma associated with the illness called depression.

Perhaps the perspective that has struck me the hardest comes from the posts in which the writer was clearly puzzled. Over and over again I've seen some form of the question, "He seemed so happy, so 'up.' He brought so much laughter and joy to this world - how could he possibly be depressed?"

This bizarre characteristic of depression - the ability to put on an acceptable face for the public - is one of the very confusing things about the illness. Sometimes depressed people are able to hide their pain from the rest of the world. Perhaps it's the stigma associated with illnesses of the brain. Perhaps it's the fear that sharing one's real self will lead to rejection, to job loss, to being marginalized as "one of those crazy people."

My co-author and I often hear about the mask worn by so many depressed people when we meet with caregivers for depressed persons. Close family members, who might be the only ones who see the evidence of true depression, are met with these kinds of comments: "He can't be depressed - he goes to work every day and functions perfectly normally!" "No way is she depressed - she's the life of the party!" 

Depression is a physical illness. It's a malfunction of the body organ we call the brain, just as cancer is a malfunction at the cellular level; just as diabetes is a malfunction of the endocrine system. Often we don't see physical manifestations of cancer or diabetes, but they are silently destroying the sufferer just the same. So it can be with depression. Actually, the “I can’t see it so it must not be real” phenomenon is even more prevalent with depression.

I believe that we, as a people of faith, have the power to change this mindset. We have the intelligence God gave us with which we can do the research, inform ourselves about the realities of depression and other brain illnesses. We have the love and concern for God's people that can move us to reach out in support. We have the call to be the face of Christ to all we meet.

One in ten adults in the United States is diagnosed with clinical depression each year. There’s a very good chance that, though they appear to be functioning normally, the guy in the next pew, the woman you sat beside in today’s meeting, the person in the next cubicle is struggling with an illness that threatens to take his or her life.

Jesus sees past the masks we so often wear - the type of mask Robin Williams wore in his comedian/actor persona; the type of mask often worn by people suffering from depression. In John 4, Jesus knows everything about the Samaritan woman at the well. He sees past the labels she wears, past the story she tells the world. He reaches out in love to provide living water.

It is my hope that we, as people of faith, can cut through the harmful and misinformed images the world carries regarding depression. We can reflect the Christ who sees the truth and offers the living water of love and understanding, even when the truth is hiding behind a "happy" mask. 

Amy Viets, Dir. of Children's Ministries

Amy has co-authored:

Let Me Sow Light: Living with a Depressed Spouse 

Dancing in the Dark: How to Take Care of Yourself When Someone You Love is Depressed  

She has also authored:

Making Faith Fun: 132 Spiritual Activities You Can Do With Your Kids