There is a point where stress, sadness, and worry cross a line into something that needs professional help — and in Roma communities, that line is almost never recognized because we are taught to endure, to be strong, to handle it within the family. I have seen the cost of this silence: men who drink to cope until their liver fails, women who stop eating, teenagers who harm themselves. Asking for help is not betraying your culture. It is protecting your life so you can be there for the people who need you.
If you or someone you know has been unable to function normally for more than 2 weeks — cannot sleep, cannot eat, cannot care for children, cries constantly, or has no energy for anything — this is beyond normal stress. This is depression and it is a medical condition as real as diabetes. It is not weakness and it responds to treatment
Your first step is your family doctor (GP). Say: 'I have been feeling very bad for more than 2 weeks and I need help.' You do not need to explain everything. The GP can assess you and refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist. This service is free or low-cost in most European countries. If your GP dismisses you, see another one
If someone in your family mentions wanting to die, wanting to disappear, or feeling that everyone would be better off without them — take this seriously immediately. Stay with them. Remove access to medicines and sharp objects. Call the national crisis line or 112. You are not overreacting. These words are a cry for help that must be answered
Mental health medication is not shameful, addictive, or 'for crazy people.' Antidepressants are prescribed to millions of people worldwide and they save lives. They do not change who you are — they lift the chemical fog that prevents you from being who you are. I have seen people transformed by treatment they resisted for years because of stigma
Roma communities experience among the highest rates of depression and anxiety in Europe, driven by structural factors like discrimination, poverty, and lack of access to services. Yet mental health service use in Roma communities is among the lowest. In programs where I have helped connect people to culturally sensitive mental health care, the improvement in quality of life was profound — not just for the individual, but for their entire family.
Save this number in your phone right now: your country's mental health crisis helpline. If you are in crisis, call it. If someone you know is in crisis, call it with them. And if you have been struggling for more than 2 weeks, book an appointment with your GP this week. You deserve to feel better, and help exists.