Depression is more than just feeling sad. It is a state of hopelessness in which one feels worthless and inadequate in comparison to others in society. Depression is really no joke and anyone who is feeling more down in the dumps than usual, it’s best to seek psychiatric help to deal. Though depression is sometimes irrational, young Kalief Browder knew the source of his depression. As a teen, he was held for three abusive years on Riker’s Island for a crime he did not commit. Since his release in 2013, he battled with severe depression, but lost that battle on Saturday when he hung himself with an air conditioning cord.
Kalief Browder was arrested in May 2010 when another teenager accused him of stealing a backpack, but was never convicted. His parents were unable to pay his bail and Kalief refused to take the plea deal offered to him, claiming his innocence. He fought for three years to get off of Riker’s Island where he was beaten by guards and inmates alike. He also reportedly spent 400 days in solitary confinement, a situation that is a detriment to anyone’s mental health. His predicament gained national attention and even moved celebrities like Jay Z and Rosie O’Donnell to speak out.
After being released, Kalief Browder enrolled into community college in an attempt to move on with his life, but the scars were too deep. Severe depression set in and he had been combatting suicidal thoughts. Unfortunately on Saturday, Kalief had enough and decided to end his own misery.
Suicide is seen as a weak, selfish act reserved for cowards. None of this applies to Kalief Browder. He had to endure a struggle that very few know. The brother just needed some solace that he couldn’t find in life. Mental health among Black men and women is a serious issue that needs addressing. If you feel that something is off mentally in yourself or someone you care about, get the proper help you/they need.