Amanda Todd Video Reflection

     The video made by Amanda Todd really struck me. I could relate to her. I myself have had depression and thoughts of suicide, though I was too scared to kill myself. Unlike Amanda, I couldn't bring myself to start cutting. It was scary. But I did cry a lot alone in my room at night. I also sat alone at lunch for two years. I had no real friends to talk to and share my experiences and feelings with. I couldn't tell my parents either. They laughed at me when I told them that I thought I was depressed. I think they thought that it was just a phase that would pass. It did after two years, but not without leaving its mark.

    

     I know several people who suffer from depression. One of them is a girl I follow on Tumblr. She gets bullied by anonymous people who send her messages filled with hate. She does nothing to stop them. Another person with depression is my friend. She cuts herself and this scares me. I’m afraid that she would commit suicide like Amanda. I’m sad that I’m too far away to be there for her. However, I am most terrified of losing her. She is a dear friend to me.  Fortunately, she has now gone seven days without cutting.

  

   It scares me when I see posts on the internet talking about suicide, cutting and depression. To me, it seems like they have given up hope, which I find frightening. Depression is serious no matter how small. It can be so bad that people find the courage to kill themselves because living is too difficult and painful for them. The same friend who was cutting had suggested that I go to blogs of the people who suffer from depression and tell them that they are strong, they can pull through this, it will get better, and that they are beautiful and valuable to others. Maybe sending encouraging messages will help them, maybe not, but it is worth a try. Maybe if Amanda had gotten such messages instead of the hateful ones, she wouldn't have committed suicide.