Rach Editor's Note

Hi Everyone,

Mental health is something that’s always been close to my heart, ever since I watched my best mate from school go through depression after a traumatic divorce.

I remember being on the phone with him, trying so hard to help. I was throwing out suggestions — fresh air, long walks, joining a club, thinking positive. I thought depression needed action. Solutions. A mindset shift.

And while those things can help, I was totally thrown when he got short with me. Frustrated. Distant.

That night, he sent me an article that changed everything.

It explained that even though I meant well, I was coming at it the wrong way. Depression isn’t a problem you can fix. It’s not something someone can just shake off or “snap out of.” Often, it sits over someone like a thick fog — heavy and unmoving, no matter how badly they want it gone.

And sometimes, that fog just has to run its course.

That’s exactly what happened with my friend. After eleven long months, it finally began to lift. Later, he told me he was glad it didn’t go on any longer — because he’d made the quiet decision to end his life if it had. He’d reached that point. And no one knew.

Thankfully, the fog shifted — and he came through the other side.

As we mark R U OK? Day this week, I just wanted to share this reminder: sometimes it’s not about the advice or the “fix.” What helped my friend most, he said, was knowing someone was there. That someone cared enough to check in. Even when I didn’t have the right words.

Rach

Did You Know?
When people who’ve attempted suicide are asked 24 hours later if they really wanted to die, they almost always say no. They just wanted the pain to stop. Sometimes just being there is all it takes to make the difference.

‍