Why we need to talk about depression | Kevin Breel

Kevin Breel didn't look like a depressed kid: team captain, at every party, funny and confident. But he tells the story of the night he realized that -- to save his own life -- he needed to say four simple words.

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[pizzaparlorprincess]

"if you break your arm, everyone runs over to sign your cast. if you have depression, everyone runs away."

[nashae_]

The worst pat of depression is waking up every morning and facing the day. I wake up every morning having to put a fake smile on and talk to others. I really do try but each day and it gets harder and harder. Depression sucks, and it's real.

[MyNamesGame]

It takes TRUE strength to stand up and say this on a stage in front of people. That is true courage.

[rockys]

"Real depression isn't being sad when something in your life goes wrong. Real depression is being sad when everything in your life is going right."

This really hit home. He words it so perfectly, and I relate to it on a molecular level. It's not easy feeling something completely unrelated to your external reality, where the act of feeling sad makes me feel selfish, guilty.


"Because unfortunately we live in a world where if you break your arm, everyone runs over to sign your cast. But if you tell people you're depressed, everyone runs the other way."
Too true. I'm tired of having to lie and say I called in sick because of a cold or a flu or a stomach ache, when really it's a whole other type of sickness that keeps me bedridden and exhausted.


"We are so, so, so accepting of any body part breaking down, other than our brains."

I live in a society where, when it's your body breaking down, people hurry to get you all the help you need. However, when it's your brains, it's because you're not close enough to God, you're not praying, you're being sinful, you're defying God. That, in itself, is a taboo, and so people just pity you and tell you to pray and repent.

[BlackSwanNews]

This is probably the realist video on the Internet

[rejiinamio]

you know what's even scarier about people hearing you got depression? *they think you're just lonely*, they *don't listen to you*. And if they do listen... they say "move on, dude." or they change the topic. It's been like that for me. I thought even the closest friends would hear me out, but they just brush it off and change the topic. So I never spoke to anyone about it.
I didn't notice it myself until recently but, keeping everything in made me numb... like, I just feel really hollow inside. I created a world for myself where I'm surrounded by happy thoughts, and things that make me happy... but depression will always haunt me, and it made me numb. It didn't improve one bit. It's the stigma that I hate. That people are blind and deaf to these things. What's keeping me from ending my life? I see my family's faces and I instantly feel guilty... there's this voice mocking me for not committing suicide... there's a war within myself. That's what depression is for me. It's a vicious cycle of wanting to kill myself, to trying to pick myself up.

[pwjamespw]

That speech from someone of just 19 is outstanding. Im 28 and have been suffering from depression for the last 9 years. Its really tough, and Kevin put everything that i feel in to words better than anyone else that ive heard. Thank you.

[nerdfighterable]

I like how he's just telling us the truth without embellishing it with fake emotions.

[abdulrahmannabil]

"would you rather make your next Facebook status say you're having tough time getting out of bed because you hurt your back, or you're having tough time every morning because you're depressed? that's the stigma."

what a brave courageous guy.

[ThePrivet]

Yeah, the saddest part is that no one takes it seriously. Whenever I open up to somebody they say :'' oh, it's just autumn blues, i get that all the time, you'll be fine". It is not just Autumn blues for me, it's a constant fight with myself

[AwsumCherry]

I tried to open up to my mom once and she made an uncomfortable comment and walked away. I love my mother to death, but that's why 8 years after being diagnosed with clinical depression she still doesn't know I suffer every day. I'm terrified of her response, of her rejection, and what that might do to the delicate tightrope I walk every day.

[pipsch]

Depression is the incapability of being vulnerable because you are afraid that you will die if you are rejected for this very vulnerable thing that hides inside you

[themusicalpilot]

I understand this completely. I have depression and it's devastating. It's literally like you watch the person you used to be before it fade away. You can't feel emotions other than sadness. You can't do the things you used to love. It's like consciously watching every part of the old you get consumed by this black void that is depression. It's painful, it hurts. But the thing about depression is, it's hurts you so badly you can't feel the hurt anymore

[hungrymadcat]

Becoming invisible is the scariest part of depression -_-

[charliechuck]

brave smart young man...good luck bro you will thrive.

[gnore_me.]

He's right, depression would be a million times easier if you could simply share it and talk about it without having to worry about being stigmatized. You rock, Kevin

[susangurung]

i never knew depression was such a serious problem. Being a med std, in schools, we are taught like depression are mild forms of psychotic illness. so, nevere realized it was such a dangerous one. thanks a lot for the video. i really got to learn a lot.

[hanasahr]

This speech is so powerful. This is a lot how I feel and this is exactly how society is. Huge clap to Kevin Breel and I'm happy he has made it this far.😊

[nekogirl]

I saw this in class today and it very much inspired me and telling me i should speak up about my depression

[katherine]

depression is being sad when everything is going right which is true. now imagine how it feels when things go wrong.