#IGetDepressedWhen Hashtag Prompts Mental Health Advocates to Explain Depression

On Thursday it seemed, for a brief period of time, as though the internet forgot what it means to have depression. The hashtag #IGetDepressedWhen began trending on Twitter, confusing depression – a mental illness – as another word for sadness.

The hashtag took off with people listing trivial things that make them sad, as well as users trolling the hashtag with jokes about the Clinton campaign, Harambe and McDonald’s. Fortunately, it didn’t take long for mental health-savvy Twitter users to explain what depression is and isn’t.

“#IGetDepressedWhen depression is not a mood. I find this hashtag highly offensive for all those like me who have this mental illness,” one Twitter user wrote.

#IGetDepressedWhen depression is not a mood. I find this hashtag highly offensive for all those like me who have this mental illness

— BIEBS (@Thanks_Idol) September 1, 2016

“#IGetDepressedWhen my brain literally does not produce serotonin & I have a mental disorder that literally causes me to want to kill myself,” another user explained.

#IGetDepressedWhen my brain literally does not produce serotonin & I have a mental disorder that literally causes me to want to kill myself

— danni (@slowtownshouse) September 1, 2016

“#IGetDepressedWhen i have depression, which is always, because depression is a mental illness that isn’t situational,” wrote another.

#IGetDepressedWhen i have depression, which is always, because depression is a mental illness that isn’t situational

— paige (@thumbcramps) August 31, 2016

One in five Americans live with a mental health condition. Those living with depression have a mental illness, which is not an emotion they can turn on and off. Like any other medical condition, depression is something that requires treatment.

“#IGetDepressedWhen i forget to take my medication and i’m unable to leave my bed for days since depression is an actual illness not a mood,” Twitter user @savethebumbles shared.

#IGetDepressedWhen i forget to take my medication and i’m unable to leave my bed for days since depression is an actual illness not a mood ? — sometimes active (@savethebumbles) August 31, 2016

Not only are hashtags like this potentially offensive to people who live with depression, they promote misunderstanding and add to the stigma that people living with mental illnesses already face.

“#IGetDepressedWhen my mental illness is used as a trendy # while my MI is ignored & judged by those who don’t suffer from it, but use this #,” Mich Foreman wrote.

#IGetDepressedWhen my mental illness is used as a trendy # while my MI is ignored & judged by those who don’t suffer from it, but use this # — Mich Foreman (@PotatoForeman) September 1, 2016

In summary: “This hashtag #IGetDepressedWhen should be changed to #IGetSadWhen cause depression isn’t a mood it’s a mental illness ????.”

This hashtag ” #IGetDepressedWhen” should be changed to “#IGetSadWhen” cause depression isn’t a mood it’s a mental illness ????

— Mul (@Mul_OVO) August 31, 2016

Next time you want to create a hashtag making light of mental illness, think again.