Love Is A Movement

Never read the story? Please go here and bring a tissue.

Here are some mind-blowing facts about depression found on the site:

-121 million people worldwide suffer from depression. (The World Health Organization)

 -18 million of these cases are happening in the United States. (The National Institute of Mental Health)

 -Between 20% and 50% of children and teens struggling with depression have a family history of this struggle and the offspring of depressed parents are more than three times as likely to suffer from depression. (U.S. Surgeon General's Survey, 1999)

 -Depression often co-occurs with anxiety disorders and substance abuse, with 30 percent of teens with depression also developing a substance abuse problem.   (NIMH)

 -2/3 of those suffering from depression never seek treatment.

Untreated depression is the number one cause of suicide, and suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers. (NIMH)

TWLOHA is one of my favorite organizations.  It touches my heart on personal levels.  Today is a day to recognize it.  I don't know if it is the national day (which I think is the day before Valentine's day?) but I never pass up a day to remind myself of all the people in the world suffering from depression or addiction or self harm or thoughts of suicide that are plaguing their lives.

So please, take a moment out of your day to say a prayer for someone who is suffering, to remind those around you that you care, or even write "love" on your arm so when someone asks, you can tell them the TWLOHA story.