Years After His Brother's Suicide, Radio Host Talks Depression With Beautiful Twitter Rant

Using the hashtag #sunlight, writer and radio host John Moe took to Twitter this week to shine light on mental health and depression in honor of his brother’s birthday. His brother died by suicide in 2007.

Well, it’s August 24th and time to talk about something unpleasant. But maybe not as unpleasant as previous August 24ths. #sunlight

— John Moe (@johnmoe) August 24, 2015

As some of you may know, I lost my brother Rick to suicide in 2007. I pledged at that time to speak up about depression. #sunlight

— John Moe (@johnmoe) August 24, 2015

He went on to discuss how depression has been historically shamed in our culture, opened up about his own experience with depression and asked others to shine sunlight on an issue that has lived in shadows. Moe is author of Dear Luke, We Need to Talk, Dark: And Other Pop Culture Correspondences, a contributor for McSweeney’s and host of the radio show, Wits.

Check out highlights from his beautiful, anti-stigma Twitter rant below:

Depression, historically, has been shamed in our culture. It’s seen as a mood, a ploy for attention, or something to keep secret. #sunlight

— John Moe (@johnmoe) August 24, 2015

The joke has been made about addressing depression the way we do other diseases. “How can you have cancer on such a sunny day?!” #sunlight

— John Moe (@johnmoe) August 24, 2015

He also suffered from mental disorders, including depression. Near the end of his life, he was told to get in-patient treatment. #sunlight

— John Moe (@johnmoe) August 24, 2015

He rejected this because of the stigma associated with mental illness. Soon after, he shot himself at a gun range in San Diego. #sunlight

— John Moe (@johnmoe) August 24, 2015

I couldn’t save him. I didn’t know he was suffering. He never told me. Then he was gone. Depression feeds on that shame. #sunlight

— John Moe (@johnmoe) August 24, 2015

Depression wants you to be alone. Wants you to feel hopeless. Wants you to keep it hidden. Depression is a jerk. #sunlight

— John Moe (@johnmoe) August 24, 2015

But goddammit, I’m not letting depression hide in shadows. I ask you to help me in dragging the bastard into the #sunlight.

— John Moe (@johnmoe) August 24, 2015

Every time someone talks about depression without stigma, a beam of #sunlight is cast upon that bastard. And it burns, oh how it burns.

— John Moe (@johnmoe) August 24, 2015

I have depression. I treat it. I address it. I fight it. And generally I win. Something that helps: not being ashamed of it. #sunlight

— John Moe (@johnmoe) August 24, 2015

If you are experiencing the symptoms of depression, please go to a doctor. You may have a disease. A treatable one. #sunlight

— John Moe (@johnmoe) August 24, 2015

If you can make a step – one phone call, one appointment you keep – you will help yourself and everyone. You will cast #sunlight.

— John Moe (@johnmoe) August 24, 2015

We can drag this thing into the #sunlight, kicking and screaming, and disinfect the stigma. And get down to treatment. #sunlight

— John Moe (@johnmoe) August 25, 2015

Thanks. I’ll do this again next August 24th. Happy birthday, big brother. #sunlight.

— John Moe (@johnmoe) August 25, 2015

Thanks for shining the light, John.

If you or someone you know needs help, see our suicide prevention resources.

If you need support right now, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.