Firstly, I answered yes because depression isn't the only mental disorder out there. There are plenty, enough so that I am positive that other half of the millennials and gen Z suffer from some type of mental disorder. If you were asking about depression specifically, I would say 50/50.
Secondly, I don't understand why there's an option titled, "It's their choice."
That's like saying being black is a choice. Or being gay is a choice.
It's not.
Let's take schizophrenia for example —
It's a mental disorder that patients are born with and identify through symptoms, such as what normal people would call hallucinations. You don't decide whether or not you are schizophrenic. You are born with it and therefore, you can't change it.
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Depression.
It's a touchy subject, but Millennials and Gen Z don't really take it that way unless they themself have suffered from depression. The word depression itself is an overused and often exaggerated term.
You don't suddenly have depression because your teacher gave you a B instead of what you think you deserved (cough, A+, cough). You're not going to suddenly die just because there is one
B in a sea of
As in your report card.
Depression, while being classed as a mental defect, is more than just your mind being slightly different from others, and you being insanely mad or sad all the time. Depression is this process in which you argue with yourself that you're not worthy to be on this Earth, to stand on the same ground as 7 billion other people. You keep telling yourself bad things about you, your personality, your grades, your appearance. At some point, you'll end up being so immersed in the thought that you're not worth anything at all, that you become numb.
You numb the pain away. In one way or another, you find something to confide into that will take your mind off things, at least for a bit. Alcohol, smoking and drugs are, obviously, popular choices. But what else is there?
Sometimes, people don't know that they're sad. Really positive people oftentimes tell themself that they're just going through tough times and they'll get through it eventually, etc. However, they might find themself unconsciously doing something that could, potentially, kill them. If not kill, then at least harm them, physically or emotionally.
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Walking in the rain. Yes, I know, it's nice and everyone loves it. Especially dancing in it. However, if you walk in the rain, especially without a raincoat, you are bound to catch a fever or cold. Obviously, you can't die from that, but sometimes, feeling physical pain assures you that you still exist, you're still alive. Even if you don't want to be.
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Doing things that could get you jail time. I'm pretty sure only people with true hatred will ever commit a crime without reason, or with a reason, just a really messed up one. But, what about people who commit a simple thing like petty theft? Going to jail means you've done something wrong. To someone with major depression, that would help prove to yourself that, "oh, I'm a bad person" even if you aren't.
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Angering or hurting loved ones. If people dislike you, they will stay away from you. Sometimes, you will feel like you'll sadden any loved ones you have if you were to express depression or a hatred of yourself. Nobody likes making people sad. So instead, people with depression will push loved ones away, and anger or make them dislike said person, until they finally do (go away). The logic to a patient with depression may seem strange to you, but remember that our brains don't work the same.
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Visiting hospitals daily/ weekly, even if you don't have any relatives or loved ones there (or maybe becoming a doctor, nurse or medical assistant). Hospitals have sick and, sometimes, dead people. This means that hospitals are basically a ticket to getting sicknesses and disease. What better way to kill yourself than to contract a disease and make it seem as though you've died from natural causes?
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There's no real, specific cure for depression. It really just depends on you, and how you would want to help yourself. If you want to open up to a relative, teacher or friend then go ahead, I won't stop you. However, if you dislike socialising, then don't even bother trying. You will most likely fail. (Sorry ;-; )
A better approach for anyone who dislikes socialising or opening up to people is to find something you enjoy, or something you're good at. At the least, find something that will help calm you. Of course, don't do something that could harm you. Do something like sketching, or reading, or going on nature walks. It'll help you a
lot, and it'll take your mind off things. Try not to pressure yourself though, or have any high expectations.
Instead of trying to arrange a daily plan for your day, just try to get a basic outline and instead, let the day play out for itself. If you like painting, but don't manage to do it once a day, then that's okay. You have
decades ahead of you. Don't try to get everything done in one day, simply span it across several. It'll help you so, so much. Trust me.
