This fantastic poem was written by one of our Time to Talk Champions!
Depression is a Liar
Depression I need to tell you, that you are a cowardly liar
You smother life, stealing oxygen, like a consuming fire
You cause untold misery, and for that I’m sure you must be glad
When you see how people are suffering and how many you make sad
You think you are clever and funny and that it’s all just a very big joke
To strip away a person’s very being, until they feel there is no hope
Why are you so deceitful, telling vicious lies so people are taken in
They believe the lies you tell them, so you tell more and their minds win
You are so crafty that you prevent us from seeing what is really true
You make people feel unworthy, so their thinking is all askew
That desire that they once had, to live full lives and really achieve
You eroded it all away, so now they no longer can believe
Reality has been obscured, you cause sufferers to lose their perception
Thinking the worst of themselves is easy, doubting even others true intention
You are a con-artist, hiding how adept you are in your own selfish illusion
Casting spells over others’ souls because you need a personality transfusion
Punishment of the past, previous mistakes and regrets you love to torment
The focus on the present is hollowed out, the future has a huge big dent
You are a heavy cloud, a long dark tunnel with no air or view in sight
You say ‘there is no point’ and you whisper ‘just give up the fight’
Depression are you listening for now the world has something to say
You may have won a battle, but the real war against you is on its way
We are talking more about your evil, to each other and we are sharing our views
About your tactics It’s Time to Talk, and Time to Change is really making news
Your stigma is being challenged so now your power will lose its strength
We will raise your real profile, and keep talking about you at great length
That lack of knowledge about you when someone says they have depression
You love it when a person’s ignorance causes them to hold the wrong impression
World – please don’t label someone, don’t dismiss them without a thought
You don’t know the path a person’s been on, how much they’ve already fought
They already think negative things, but thinking something doesn’t make it true
But you can add to that and affirm it by the negative things you say and do
A problem shared is a problem halved, isn’t that what we always say?
So the more we all share, the more our problems get smaller every day
Depression it’s you who is empty and shallow, it’s you who is really weak
You bear a grudge, you are bitter and lonely that’s why victims you long to seek
We all need to lift up our heads, together we can focus and have clear sight
Talking, listening, being there for each other means we all have a part in the fight
In the fight against depression we must join forces so we can shout out loud
We will win the war against you – and with your downfall we’ll all be proud!