“Depression is a state of mind that one could overcome” so they say but, is it that easy? throughout the years thousands of people have lost their lives due to this, millions of people suffer from depression all over the world. Being confined within our minds when we try to overcome this feeling a formidable appearance appears and tells us otherwise. Mathew Johnstone writer and illustrator of the book ‘I had a black dog: his name was depression’ describes this appearance as something of an unhinged burden that follows you everywhere. He says “keeping up an emotional lie is exhausting, black dog could make me think and say negative things, he can make me irritable and difficult to be around’.

Depression is a devoid of emotions, simply put being trapped in a space of nothingness, it’s not about feeling sad or down it’s something much more, rooted deep inside, a lot of people turn to self-medication for help…but is that really the answer or are we masking and rotting away on the inside? In the darkest of times instead of facing it alone, the first step to tackling this void is by reaching for that friendly hand that is willing to help, it’s the hand that could change your life. Step by step, take a breath and show your willingness to being helped.

Model: Aidan Rana

Photographer: Chioma Eguzoraku