Mental health-related issues such as depression are a growing concern both at individual and collective levels. Indeed depression is now considered as one of the epidemics of the 21st century. There is hardly a family that is not affected in some way or another. According to the World Health Organisation depression is the leading cause of disability. I am writing this article as an academic who specialises in mental health, as an “expatriate” of depression and as a mother. It has always been my intention to eventually write about this subject – a subject that touches us all.

One of the objectives regarding this article is to shed some light on the inner world of the person suffering from depression. Unfortunately, at grass roots levels, there are still a number of myths regarding this condition. You still come across people that argue “it’s in the mind” and quick to advice to “neħħi l-ħsibijiet minn moħħok” (remove those thoughts from your mind) or “qum fuq tiegħek” (wake up to yourself). Or “għandek kollox u ma jonqsok xejn” (you have everything and you don’t need anything).

I’m sure such people mean well. However, for the person going through an episode of depression (and/or an anxiety disorder) this is the last thing they want to hear. Having experienced depression for many years during my own journey of self-discovery, one of the turning points that I reached in my life was when I turned that state into a being – a being/self that had special needs that required attention at a number of levels. I needed to be acknowledged and honoured for who I was at that point in time without having to face the shame that is usually associated with the stigma in relation to mental illness. I had a voice that needed to be heard. Indeed, through extensive self-analysis over the years I identified so many such voices that manifested themselves through depression!!!

These were the voices of the “demons” that I had to face at such a painful level. I needed to go through the depths of the abyss, cut through the roaring fire of hell without the suit of armour that shielded me for so many years and walk bare-footed over the hot ashes. This is the self that needed to fight the forces of hell and try to keep its sanity as it fought its way through to survive psychologically from one moment to the other. Some years ago our daughter Michelle also went through an acute episode of depression and needed to face the dark side of her soul. As I studied her case I could see that my own insecurities and the heavy baggage that I was carrying from childhood have interfered in her upbringing.

To me depression goes beyond the medical model that has a place in its own right – and also needs to be respected. As I already alluded, there is a spiritual dimension to depression – a dimension that helped me tap into the dark side of the soul, go through the “road less travelled” and be born again with a renewed spirit. There is a lot to say about this. Unfortunately, time and space do no permit.

Going back to the human face of depression, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the need not only to respect with dignity the person who is suffering from this medical condition, but also the need to reach out to such persons. We can do so much by doing so little! A person in that state requires lot of nurturing and support. That person is also going through an emotional reconstruction even though he/she may not be aware of it. As such a lot of compassion and understanding are required at such a critical time. I cannot emphasise this highly enough.

As I sat beside my daughter during the period when she was going through an acute episode of depression I couldn’t help thinking of my own personal journey. I could see that I was/am reaping the benefits of my own hard work, both at personal and academic levels. Among other things I felt grounded more than ever as I accompanied her through such a horrendous path of her journey. Last but not least I was also thinking of people who do not have such support, whether they are victims of depression or members of the family caring for such people. The suffering for these people is beyond description.

Rays of hope…

The compelling need to explore my childhood and tap into the personal aspect of my identity coincided with another need – namely to resume my studies as a mature-age student in 1987 at Western Institute (now known as Victoria University).

My academic journey was quite challenging because of my own personal issues. Many times I had to defer my studies to deal with acute episodes of depression and anxiety attacks. During such critical times I reached the point when I felt I’m losing not only the battle but also the war against mental illness. At one stage I was even hospitalised for five weeks in a psychiatric ward. In spite of this, I not only managed to rise to the challenge and deal with such horrendous episodes, but I also managed to deal with these experiences constructively.

Since 1987 I embarked on an intensive self-analysis that I recorded in a number of volumes that I have written. Moreover, these personal experiences did not deter me from pursuing my academic dreams and reach my potential. In 2005 I got my doctorate and I never looked back. As the adage goes “the rest is history”.

Dr Borg is an academic at Victoria University, Melbourne. She specialises in mental health across cultures. She is also the founder of the Maltese Connections Project: www.malteseconnections.com

Source: Weekender, April 4, 2009