Having depression is like having a broken leg--and then being expected to walk to the doctor's office. Personally, I think mental illness awareness should be t

Having depression is like having a broken leg--and then being expected to walk to the doctor's office. Personally, I think mental illness awareness should be taught more like emergency response first aid or stroke recognition: don't teach it to the mentally ill person, teach proper intervention to the people who are more likely to notice it and do something. The one mental disorder we actually do this with pretty well is ADHD, where family, friends and especially teachers and employers will generally notice before the person suffering it does. But then we use the fact that laypeople see it first as anecdotal "evidence" that it's not real, ignoring that you're a layperson too when you bring yourself to the doctor. It's a tough situation all around. I look forward to the day when mental illness is better understood and proper identification and care is better communicated.