Day 12: Prayers for Those with Depression

It's been a long time since I posted a Pray With Us post. This is our series of posts where we pray for people around us. No matter what your religion is, or even if you don't have one, you are welcomed to pray with us.          

Tan Family Chronicles' Pray With Us series
Day 1: Prayers for the Dearly Departed
Day 2: Prayers for the Littlest Ones We Never Got to Know
Day 3: Prayers for Those Here, But Not Present
Day 4: Prayers for Children to Be Well
Day 5: Prayers for Those with Cancer
Day 6: Prayers for Those Who Want Kids But Can't
Day 7: Prayers for Those with Down Syndrome
Day 8: Prayers for all Marriages
Day 9: Prayers for the Safety of our Children
Day 10: Prayers for Those Who Look a Little Different
Day 11: Prayers for Those Who Need a Little More Courage in Life

Day12: Prayers for Those with Depression

2014 was not a very good year for us, the world lost Robin Williams and we personally lost a number of friends to depression. People who succumbed to depression... and did the unthinkable. Unthinkable by people who don't have depression. But for people with depression, the unthinkable may be constantly on their minds, all the time, lingering... The friend of mine that passed on, is a good friend of mine. It is painful to think, talk or write about it, even now. However, I found this series of comic drawings online which I think is very well done. I think this will serve nicely for us to join in the prayers for those with depression, and those around them. Thank you Colleen for allowing me to repost this. 

Depression is Quiet by Colleen Butters
http://solar-citrus.tumblr.com/

We pray for those suffering from depression. We pray that you will cease to suffer from it. We pray that the condition will go away completely, immediately. We pray that any circumstances which led to you developing the condition, will be resolved satisfactorily, and remain resolved. We pray for you to have peace of mind. We pray that you have the support of your family and friends. Please let people help you. Perhaps not everyone would, but someone will! Please open your heart and mind to allowing people to help you. Please be positive. Please reach out, and call for help. It is okay to need help. And people will help. We pray that you will feel our love for you, amidst the darkness you dwell in.

We pray for the family and friends of those who suffer from depression. We pray that you can see the signs, and reach out and help, before it is too late. We pray that you have the strength and patience to help. We pray that you remember the love you have for each other, especially when the going gets tough. We pray that you will always have the heart and the ability to do what is right, and what needs to be done. Reach out for help too. There is strength in numbers, so please do not hesistate to reach out to others for help, so that you can rest too. There is no shame. There will be compassion. There will be people who will help. 

We pray for people to help when they see a need for help. We pray that people answer the call, when help is requested. We pray that more people in this world are willing to extend whatever aid they can render. Do not be afraid to help. The best form of giving is to give without expecting anything in return. We pray that we can all do what we know is the right thing to do.

We pray for those who had depression, and have already departed. We pray that you will not be judged. We pray that, no matter what your religion was, that you would be accepted into heaven. We pray that you are at ease, at peace, and finally free from all kinds of pain, physical, mental, emotional. Know that you still have people who love you and miss you.

We pray for the family and friends of the departed. Please do not succumb to depression as well. We pray that you have the support of the family and friends around you. 

Let us pray.

Here are some helplines you can call/contact for aid:

Samaritans of Singapore
The Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) provides confidential 24-hour emotional support by trained volunteers to people in crisis, thinking of suicide or affected by suicide. SOS also runs the 'Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors' programme, which is an outreach programme to provide emotional support to survivors bereaved by the suicide death of a loved one.

Singapore's National Council of Social Service (NCSS) has compiled an excellent list of resources for mental health related services. Also, the NCSS List of General Helplines (pdf file)

Here is more information on depression:
Health Promotion Board - Understanding Depression

Other bloggers' posts on the topic of depression
Owls Well - Dying of Depression by Becky Lee
PrayerFull Mum - {Thankful Tuesdays} Happy Family

If you have any other links which is useful, please drop me a comment or an email at tanfamilychronicles(a)yahoo.com to inform me, so that I can add it in this post.