Man creates wonderful system using ice cream sticks to help his girlfriend with depression

More than 300 million people suffer from depression, making it one of the most prolific mental health disorders out there, according to the World Health Organisation.

How to help someone you care about who suffers from depression is a difficult question, as everyone has different needs.

For Reddit user bovadeez, his girlfriend’s often crippling bouts of depression prompted him to try and ease her symptoms.

He made a jar filled with positive affirmations that she could take out when she was feeling down.

Explaining how it works, he wrote:

Each "category" is colour coded so for example orange are inspirational quotes from poets, political figures, philosophers, and humanitarians across time. Yellow reminders are positive words to help you through the day things like "you're beautiful" and "it's ok to ask for help" the purple ones are tips to help her relax things like "take a break" while she's working on her master's or "listen to your favourite song". I put a fine tipped sharpie in there with the blank ones so she record moments when she's the happiest and then she can pull one of those later when she needs it.

For the yellow reminders I said things that were positive and were.. reminders. So for example I said things like "you're beautiful" "I love you" "don't be afraid to ask for help". The quotes were taken from some of my favourite authors that were based in inspiration and positive words. For accuracy and other quotes I just searched for inspirational quotes. The relaxation portions were things that I know she forgets to do like "take a break" "listen to your favourite song" and so on.

People on Reddit immediately praised him for having his girlfriend's back

That is really beautiful, a lovely model to follow! I hope (and trust) that it helps with such a frustrating and mysterious condition.

She is lucky to have you.

-GuyDeSmiley

And people shared their own experiences with mental illness

I suffer from PTSD. This is such a great idea. Just the fact that you have her back is incredible! There's so many that just can't manage to do that

-chgogrl

As a person who has suffered from anxiety and depression for most of my life you are f awesome for doing this. She may not take advantage of it all the time or you may think its not helping but trust me it does.

-prayforplagues82

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