tisING TECHNOLOGY resources available to people with depression and he. through the same thing. People suffering from d rofit ep e ion families. People 4 can also post about their experiences online and find o h one peers as well as professionals, and find enco ers who gem haveent connect and validation when they need it most or anonymously access advicecan advice or resources. Thanks to modern technology, all of th• • • is is easily accessible to anyone with an internet connection. This kindf o support is vital, not only because of the staggeringnumber of people suffering from depression, but because “at its worst, depression can lead to suicide. Over 800 000 people die due to suicide every year” (WHO, 2016, para. 1). The internet can give people the unique opportunity to find a safe community with others who understand them and what they are going through. This connection, this kinship, can not only help destroy the stigma surrounding depression, it can even save lives. We live in a world oversaturated with technology. The argument can be made that modem technology, like the internet and social media, makes things worse for people dealing with mental illnesses like depression. However, there are undeniable positive effects of this technological revolution as well. Technology allows us to learn how diseases like depression affect the body and facilitates the spread of medical knowledge. Researchers are using this information to develop and improve apps that can help detect depression and help people manage their symptoms. The internet is already being used every day to connect people: to each other, to mental health professionals, and to supportive communities that only exist online. These developments and resources are completely fundamental to society’s wellbeing as, according to the World Health Organization, “globally, an estimated 350 millionpeople of all ages suffer from depression” (2016, para. 1). if You think someone inyour life is struggling with depression, take advantage of the vast amount of knowledge available to you online and learn about what you can do to support them. Being able to easily access this information makes a world of difference to someone cing a severe depressive episode who is feeling scared or to co- me, the intemet has been a place of solace, and being able r /461″:” wit. ft olhei people online has saved me more than once. Cit I igyr like any complex issue, can be difficult to understand and “14′ 1,11 support lur tholes uffering nom depression* powerful is P° ” daft-fling. I lowever, I believe that technology ‘le “Wit agaimi ticplessimi and, if harnessed correctly,