Student who lost friend to suicide says mental illness is not a ‘fashionable social media trend’ and urges people to cling to any ‘glimmer of light that will keep your spark going’
- Durham University undergraduate Amelia Melvin made heartfelt post online
- Called on students to message friends as it ‘could be the hand that saves them’
- English literature student also said checking in could help save someone
A student who lost a friend to suicide has said mental illness is not a ‘fashionable social media trend’ and urged those struggling to cling to any glimmer of hope that they can.
Durham University undergraduate Amelia Melvin made the comments in a heartfelt post on Facebook that sparked an outpouring of support for people suffering from depression.
The English literature student also told friends to keep checking in on each other because it ‘could be the hand that saves their lives’.
Durham University undergraduate Amelia Melvin made the post on social media, sparking an outpouring of support for people suffering from depression
In the emotional post to a Durham University group, the first year student wrote: ‘This week I lost someone important to me to suicide.
‘He was one of the loveliest, funniest people and it’s so hard to compute that he was here one minute and gone the next.
‘I remember he always used to laugh at his pain, find the lightness in even the darkest of moments. He was so good at deflecting I never truly realised how much he was suffering.
‘So I want to take this opportunity to reiterate how important checking in on your mates is, even the ones that laugh the loudest. It could be the hand that saves their lives.
‘One person dies from suicide every 40 seconds.
‘Please don’t push those away who are pushing themselves away. Mental illness is not a fashionable social media trend, it’s not something to post about for popularity, it’s serious, it’s real and it’s happening to people you know, to people like you and me.
‘Life is a funny, messed up thing. But it’s a beautiful thing, darkness and all.’
Amelia, pictured, said that people struggling with depression could try running around their room at 3 in the morning listening to ABBA
And, offering advice to those struggling with depression, she said: ‘So go dance, go cry, go run around naked at 3 in the morning listening to ABBA. Literally do anything that gets you out of bed and puts a smile on your face, even for the smallest of moments.
‘Because when the whole world begins to feel like it’s caving in, it will be that last glimmer of light that will keep your spark going.
‘No one will be able to wave a magic wand and make it all disappear in a flash. No one can click their fingers and make your suffering go away.
‘What they can do though is talk to you and support you and they can stick by you however rough it gets.
‘I promise, even if it may not feel like it, there are people out there with enough patience and love to see you through this pain and help get you to the other side.’
The post has been liked more than 800 times and shared to other pages.
As many as 95 student suicides were recorded in England and Wales during the 12 months leading to July 2017, said the Office for National Statistics.
This is significantly lower when compared with the general population of similar ages, said Universities UK online, but the figure did not include suicides recorded at further education colleges.
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.