South African Idols judge Somizi Mhlongo, reminds South Africans on his social media platform that people shouldn’t joke about depression.
The caption reads “depression isn’t a joke, don’t get tired of reminding and encouraging yourself.”
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On the Instagram post, the TV personality also shared that just because someone is celebrated doesn’t mean they’re not depressed, just because someone is accomplished doesn’t mean they’re not depressed, a person can be depressed and be well-known, a person can be depressed and a leading scholar, a person can be depressed and smile, a person can be depressed and have an awesome family.
After, losing many celebrities who “looked happy” due to depression, this mental illness is a sensitive subject because as seen in the past you never know what people are going through.
Some of celebrities who have died by suicide include veteran actor Patrick Shai was discovered by his wife hanging himself in their garage, Motswako Hip-Hop legend HHP hanged himself with a rope in his Johannesburg home, rapper and businessman Ricky Rick had previously shared he had been battling with depression and weeks before his much anticipated show Cotton Fest, he took his own life.
Depression has slowly became a pandemic and taken many people’s lives who we thought were happy and had a lot going for themselves.
The Idols judge has once shared that he also went through a traumatic time in his life and was depressed, he understand that depression doesn’t have a face.
Also see: How you can help men who are low-key dealing with depression