Woman’s ‘Trick’ Tattoo Perfectly Captures the Struggles of Depression
Student Bekah Miles made a strong statement about depression that’s gone viral on Facebook. (Photo: Facebook)
Most of us can relate to responding “I’m fine” when you’re actually feeling the complete opposite.
Bekah Miles raised this exact issue on her Facebook page, and it’s quickly gone viral. The 21-year-old student from Oregon was diagnosed with depression last year. After getting help, she decided she wanted to raise awareness on this oft-silent mental illness that affects millions.
“People who may appear happy, may be at battle with themselves,” Miles wrote. “Today, I am coming out with something that only few of you know. I am ready to have a conversation about my mental illness.”
The conversation starter? A unique tattoo in black ink on her leg. Anyone who sees the tattoo from a normal angle would read “I’m fine” but from Miles’ view, the tattoo reads “Save me.” The cry for help is what depression feels like.
(Photo: Facebook/Bekah Miles)
Said Miles on her Facebook page:
“This is one of the most difficult things to open up about because it’s extremely hard for me to feel vulnerable…but this needs to be talked about. Mental illness is serious, but so shamed in our society.
We care so much for our physical health, but hardly a thing about our mental state. And that is seriously messed up. Mental illness is not a choice and will likely hit everyone at some point in their life. If it’s such a huge issue, why aren’t we having this conversation about it?
That’s why I got this tattoo; they are great conversation starters.”
Since she shared her tattoo last Sunday, the post went viral with over 366,000 likes, 303,000 shares and 34,122 comments. And Facebook users are thanking Miles for starting this conversation.
According the the National Institute of Mental Health, most college students with depression don’t know how to reach our or don’t believe reaching out would help. Shockingly, they also found that “30 percent of college students reported feeling so depressed that it was difficult to function at some time in the past year.”
Yahoo Health spoke to anxiety expert Alicia Clark, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist practicing in Washington, D.C. earlier in the year about the topic of mental health and college students. “While we cannot be sure all of the factors that contribute to this, young adults appear to have more stress than in the past.”
Miles is on a mission: In her post, she addressed her interest in the field of psychology, continuing to say, “I want to help people who feel the way I have —and still do — because it’s hell. And I don’t wish that upon anyone.”
