As we are approaching another new year in a few weeks’ time there are a lot of us who have and are going through a plethora of concerns. When one problem is resolved another one creeps in.  

I was in a state of a quest asking myself as to why do we live with problems and what can be done to resolve it. Each year we read reports about the number of people who commit suicide due to myriad reasons such as health concerns, marital issues, job cuts, ongoing financial constraints.

The depression rates are quite alarming and those who are depressed are in a situation where they don’t know what to do and from whom to seek aid.  

Either they might not have anyone by their side to comfort, convince, guide them, and counsel them in times of serious trouble. At times their depression is passed on to the others.

But it is very imperative for society to understand why people are depressed and what affects them the most. What’s more shocking is that even youngsters these days are depressed while some of them would get involved in many substance fits of abuse.

It sends shivers down my spine to realise that our society is unable to help those who are depressed as we have been taken away glued to the hi-tech world with smartphones to keep us unwantedly busy. As people get more and more depressed, they get paranoid and start thinking only about the negative aspects of life.

Competition is heavy and as the cost of living rises, many of us have our daily expenses to meet. Finance will be the top score here for many living out here trying to get rid of loans and other fancy credit cards. Having an abundance of things with a twist in the COVID life is what I would blame it on. We humans are living in an unnatural environment, which may cause us to be dysfunctional.

People who have low self-esteem, are consistently pessimistic, and are readily overwhelmed by stress are also prone to depression. All this leads to physical changes in the body which also trigger mental health problems.

A supportive family member or friend can often make a big difference. Consulates have to come up and help those who are in desperate need of help.

They should take steps to provide people with depression with practical help. Frequently calling them and finding out how they are doing will give a lot of relief.  Sadly, the amount of time is spent indoors at home with your latest gadgets so much so that now the world hates socialising taking COVID as the trendy allegation. All it requires is time, patience, love, and feelings towards those who are depressed.

Mathew Litty,
Dubai