Nickie Vella de Fremeaux has opened up about her almost 22-year battle with depression, sharing a deeply personal message to remind people that mental health struggles do not always have a visible face.
“Here is the face of someone who has battled depression for almost 22 years: me – but I’m still here and I’m still standing,” she wrote.
She stressed that she was not sharing her experience to seek sympathy, but to raise awareness about how easily depression can remain hidden from the people around us.
“You can smile, laugh, work, love and carry on while fighting a battle very few people know anything about,” she said. “Sometimes what looks perfectly fine on the outside is anything but.”
Vella de Fremeaux also challenged the idea that depression always presents itself as overwhelming or visible sadness.
Describing herself as generally calm, happy, positive and someone who loves life, she said depression can nevertheless strike.
“Sometimes it just does. It doesn’t discriminate! It can happen to anyone and to the very best of us.”
Her message also called for an end to the stigma surrounding depression and seeking help, stressing that struggling with mental health does not make somebody weak or less worthy.
“Depression is not madness. It doesn’t make you weak or any less of a person. It is nothing to be ashamed of,” she wrote.
She urged people who are struggling to speak up, while encouraging friends and relatives to trust their instincts when they suspect someone close to them may not be OK.
“Ask … listen … and be there … lead your loved ones to seek help.”
Vella de Fremeaux ended her message on one of hope, describing herself as “living proof” that there can be light at the end of an extremely dark period.
“If sharing once again my personal experience helps just one person speak up, then it was worth sharing,” she said.
Photo credits to Nickie Vella De Fremeaux on Faceboook
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Gabriel Falzon is a social media executive at Lovin Malta, with a keen interest in digital media, local businesses, and the natural world. Outside of work, you’ll often find him baking up a storm, diving into video games, or exploring the endless corners of YouTube.