The World Health Organization has identified Depression as a major problem facing humanity-what we can do to thwart it.

Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become restless and disturbed within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence. Psalm 42:5

Recently, I read this headline: 'World Health Organization identifies depression as humanities greatest problem.' As I read more about this problem, I came across some key facts of this global epidemic that helped me to see the problem more clearly.

Depression is a common mental disorder. Globally, more than 300 million people of all ages suffer from depression.

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease.

More women are affected by depression than men.

At its worst, depression can lead to suicide.

There are effective treatments for depression. (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs369/en/)

This same site offered up some contributing factors of depression:

Depression results from a complex interaction of social, psychological and biological factors. People who have gone through adverse life events (unemployment, bereavement, psychological trauma) are more likely to develop depression. Depression can, in turn, lead to more stress and dysfunction and worsen the affected person’s life situation and depression itself.

My mind started reflecting on people all across this globe filled sadness with some on the brink of suicide grasping for anything that will make them whole again. Every single day their symptoms return with seemingly little hope in sight. 

Hope.

All of the humanity is searching for hope. A hope that all things will be better the way they were before their bereavement and or psychological trauma.

Hope. 

I reflected on my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as the one who helped me heal from my bereavement journey. I reflected on the empathetic, caring people who listened to my pain and thought this is what all humanity is looking for in their lives.No, we may never be the same after our loss, but in time we will be able to see a 'new normal'  on the horizon.

Hope. Not money, not monetary treasure, not inheritance, but the hope is what drives humanity. 

Oh, where oh where are the inspiring people who can guide people to hope? People like Winston Churchill who inspired millions at a time of national and world crisis? People like Franklin Delano Roosevelt who inspired American's and even those abroad with his Fireside chats during the great depression. People like Mother Theresa who washed the feet of the poorest of the poor and fed them when they were hungry or gave them the gift of touch they were starving for?

Hope.

We need people who lead us to inspire us just as the likes of Churchill, FDR did in the former time.

Hope, that illusory hope.

I again reflected on my faith and it occurred to me that Jesus Christ is the hope that humanity needs at such a time as this. When you really think about it, the moment that Jesus Christ rose from the grave, returned to speak to many witnesses before returning to our father in heaven, it occurred to me that unlike the long dead god's that Jesus Christ continues to be a living Savior who wants to breathe life into humanity just as he breathe life into our lives the moment we opened up the door to our hearts and invited Jesus in.

Hope will help us recover from bereavement. Hope will help us recover from adverse life events. Hope will help us and hope will help us to recover from that sad journey of bereavement. 

Now that you know that depression is a worldwide epidemic I think this will give you a new perspective on how to respond to the people you encounter on a daily basis. A simple smile, a simple kind and encouraging word or simple eye contact or the willingness to walk with them on their journey may be all they need to find a little hope for their lives.