Category: Writing

Poem: Soul

Poem: Soul

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This week,

I’ve never been able to succeed at anything.

I started to feel,

“Is there something wrong with me?”

Then,

I began to monitor every move of my soul,

Seven times.

But I found,

These seven times,

I despised it too.

 

The first time,

Between wide cobblestone avenues and thorny paths,

It chose the former.

 

The second time,

Between lust and reason,

It chose the former.

 

The third time,

Seeing its untended fruit trees failing to bear fruit,

It stole other people’s work.

 

The fourth time,

It could have climbed to the top of the mountain,

But it chose to live halfway up the mountain.

 

The fifth time,

It feared the strong,

But mocked the weak.

 

The sixth time,

It was weak,

But thought that’s how it should be.

 

The seventh time,

It wanted to change,

But it was all talk.

 

I wanted to scold the soul,

But the shaper of souls,

Is me.

(Inspired by “Seven Times I Have Despised My Soul” by Khalil Gibran)

A Wonderful Experience Helping Others

A Wonderful Experience Helping Others

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Last Chinese New Year’s Eve, I volunteered at a local community centre that provides support and resources to underprivileged families. One of my duties was to assist in delivering festive food and necessities to needy families.

As I delivered the items, I had the opportunity to connect with individuals and listen to their stories. One particular encounter deeply touched my heart. This encounter was with an elderly man who lived all by himself without any family members. According to Chinese New Year tradition, people share a big feast with their family to symbolise familial bonds and bless each other with abundance for the forthcoming year. Yet, it seemed as if the festival had highlighted his loneliness. Moreover, he was too weak to take care of his daily chores, but he showed remarkable perseverance and a sense of peace in his heart. He expressed how grateful he was for the support he had received from the community centre in the past and how it had significantly impacted his well-being.

As I interacted with other volunteers, I was struck by their kindness and willingness to help others, even while facing their own challenges. They did not forget to care for the community, embodying the belief that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Overall, this experience of helping others reaffirmed my belief in the inherent goodness within people and strengthened my commitment to continue making a positive difference in the lives of others whenever possible.

Latin, the Language

Latin, the Language

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Although Latin is often considered a dead language, its influence is immortal. It pervades various fields such as Medicine, Science, and Religion.

 

Introduction

Latin (Lingua Latīna) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally the dialect of a tribe called Latium, located in the west-central Apennine Peninsula in Italy. In the 8th century BC, Rome emerged as the center of the Latium region, and the surrounding tribes began to identify themselves as Romānus or Romānī. Following the founding of Rome (Rōma), the civilization experienced the Roman Kingdom (Regnum Romanum) era (7th century BC~510 BC), the Roman Republic (Respublica Romana) era (510 BC~27 BC), and the Roman Empire (Imperium Rōmānum) era (27 BC~476 AD). With the expansion of its territory, Latin not only became dominant in the Apennine Peninsula but also supplanted other languages, establishing itself as the official language of the provinces of the Roman Empire.

 

History

Linguists refer to the earliest form of Latin as “Pre-literary Latin” (prior to 250 BC).

From the 4th century BC, Rome began to expand outward, and by the 1st century BC, all of Italy had been Latinised. However, there was no unified standard for Latin during this period. Linguists refer to the Latin of this period as “Archaic Latin”.

The written language used during the period of Emperor Augustus (Octavius) of the Roman Empire is referred to as “Classical Latin” (Latina Classica) (80 BC~2nd century AD). This era, spanning the late Republic to the early Empire, is roughly equivalent to the Golden Age in the history of Latin literature (90 BC~4 AD) and the Silver Age (14~117 or 180). By the Golden Age, Latin had formed a unified and standardized language, characterized by a rich vocabulary, perfect syntax, and strong expressive power.

“Classical Post-Latin” (14~200), including the Silver Age (14~117 or 118) in literary history, was the language of the early Roman Empire. It still largely adhered to the grammatical norms of the Golden Age, but the syntactic structure evolved, the prose incorporated certain poetic elements, and the rhetoric became richer.

“Vulgar Latin” or “Late Latin” (3rd~6th centuries AD) marks the period from the later Roman Empire to a hundred years after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. During this time, Latin evolved rapidly, especially between the 6th and 8th centuries. Declension largely disappeared, the use of prepositions and auxiliary verbs increased, and the subjunctive form often intermingled with the declarative form. Consequently, Classical Latin gradually diverged from Vulgar Latin and eventually became a written language. Vulgar Latin dialects evolved from the 6th to 9th centuries into the modern Romance languages.

From the early medieval period onward, Latin lost its native speakers. However, Medieval Latin was used across Western and Catholic Europe during the Middle Ages as a working and literary language, from the 9th century to the Renaissance. This developed into a more refined form known as Renaissance Latin, which laid the foundation for Neo-Latin that evolved during the early modern era. During these periods, while Latin was productively used and taught for both writing and speaking, its spoken usage began to erode by the late seventeenth century. Afterward, Latin was predominantly taught for reading purposes.

Ecclesiastical Latin remains the official language of the Holy See and the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church in Vatican City. When discussing current uses of Latin, we also refer to Contemporary Latin, which has limited productive use and is seldom spoken. However, a small number of Christian clergy still speak Latin fluently.

In the evolution of Latin into the languages of the Romance language family (such as French, Italian, Catalan, Spanish, Portuguese…), many words lost their grammatical inflection endings, especially declensions, which have mostly disappeared in many Romance languages (with the exception of some pronouns).

Following these developments, Latin continued to decline and eventually became an extinct language.

 

Effects

One of the most significant influences of Latin is undoubtedly the alphabet (alphabetum). The alphabet we use today, known as the Roman or Latin Alphabet, was indirectly derived from the Greek Alphabet between the 7th and 6th centuries BC. This alphabet, used by the Romans, originally consisted of 23 letters. Before the Middle Ages, Romans used “I” to replace “J” and “V” to replace “U”. The letters J, U, and W were added in the 11th century, forming the modern 26-letter alphabet. The ancient Latin Alphabet was written in capital letters only and without punctuation, so the words in inscriptions that we see today are separated by space or dots.

Another significant influence of Latin is its vocabulary (vocabulum). Approximately 50% of English words are derived from Latin. Understanding the roots of a word to find its primitive form is a great way to learn a language. For example, the word “nova” (new) is the primitive word of “novice”, “novel”, “novelty”, and “nova”. The word “prima” (first) is the primitive word of “prime”, “primary”, “primitive”, and “primeval”…

Furthermore, the names of each month also originated from Latin. For instance, “January” (Januarius) is derived from the name of Janus, a god from Roman Mythology. “April” (Aprilis) comes from the Latin word “aperire”, which means “start” or “the start of spring”. “September” signifies “seventh” in Latin, as in the Ancient Roman Calendar, there were only 10 months in a year…

Additionally, many early books and notes were written in Latin. Works such as Isaac Newton’s “The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy” (Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica), Nicolaus Copernicus’ “On The Revolutions” (De revolutionibus orbium coelestium), and Johannes Kepler’s “Mystery of the Cosmos” (Mysterium Cosmographicum) are prime examples…

 

Grammar

Latin is a highly inflected language, with three distinct genders (masculine, feminine, and neuter), six noun cases (nominative, accusative, genitive, dative, ablative, and vocative), five declensions, four verb conjugations, and six tenses (present, imperfect, future, perfect, pluperfect, and future perfect).

The sentence structure in English that we use today typically follows the SVO (subject-verb-object) order. However, in Latin, the general order is SOV (subject-object-verb). For instance, in the sentence “Ego puer sum” (I am a boy), “sum” is the verb and “puer” is the object. Additionally, in Latin, there are no articles, so “puer” can mean either “the boy” or simply “boy”.

 

Some Latin Phrases

If you’ve ever watched Dead Poets Society, you’re likely familiar with the phrase CARPE DIEM. This Latin phrase, used by the Roman poet Horace, expresses the idea that one should enjoy life while one can — it means “seize the day”. However, it actually has a second part, CARPE DIEM, QUAM MINIMUM CREDULA POSTERO, which translates to “seize the day, trusting as little as possible in the next one.”

Another phrase we’re going to introduce is Gaius Julius Caesar’s (Gaius Iulius Caesar) quote, VENI VIDI VICI. This phrase comes from the letter that Gaius Julius Caesar wrote to the Roman Senate (Senatus) after defeating Pharnaces II of the Kingdom of Pontus at the Battle of Zela. It’s a powerful phrase that means “I came, I saw, I conquered.”

The last phrase we’re going to introduce is SEMPER PROGREDIENS. Personally, I find this phrase very meaningful — it means “always progressing”. And progress (processus) is what we should pursue throughout our lives.

 

Conclusion

Latin, such a fascinating language… Sadly, Latin began to fade away in the 6th century, shortly after the fall of Rome in 476 AD. To quote a verse from 2 Samuel 1:23 in the Bible, “In morte quoque non sunt divisi” (Even in death they were not divided).

Poem: The day after the tragedy

Poem: The day after the tragedy

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The day after the tragedy,

I sat on my bed, waiting for sunrise.

I climbed off my bed and slipped on my slippers.

I rinsed the dishes and did the laundry.

I fried some eggs and sprinkled some salt on them.

I slotted the bread in the toaster and waited for it to become toast.

I washed an orange and squeezed it into a juice glass.

I washed the pan, I washed the dishes, I cleaned the stove.

Just like the day I left.

The morning was splendid.

The day after the tragedy,

I sat in the park, waiting for someone to sit beside me.

I watched a jogger run past me, he didn’t even glance my way.

I watched a dog walker stride past me, the dog didn’t even bark at me.

I watched a toddler waddle past me, the child pointed at the apple tree behind me.

I really enjoyed sitting in the park.

Just like the day I left.

The day after the tragedy,

I settled on the couch, waiting for my family to utter a word.

My mom, who was clutching one of my watches, scrubbed it over and over until she couldn’t.

The watch was spotless, it was sparkling, but it was frozen at the time I left.

My dad, who was holding a note I wrote, read it over and over until he couldn’t.

The note was mundane, it was crumpled, but the ink was still as vivid as the day I left.

My brother, who was holding a pen of mine, clicked it over and over until he couldn’t.

The pen wasn’t very expensive, it was flawed, but the ink flowed as smoothly as the day I left.

The room was silent, I could hear a pin drop.

I liked sitting on the couch.

Just like the day I left.

The day after the tragedy.

I tried talking to the body in the morgue.

I smiled at him.

I talked about the sunrise, I talked about breakfast.

I talked about the jogger, I talked about the dog walker.

I talked about the couch, I talked about his parents.

The day after the tragedy.

I sat next to my coffin.

It was drizzling, everyone held an umbrella.

I perched on my tombstone, waiting for them to leave, waiting for the rain to end.

I regretted what I had done, I tried to reenter the body.

But all there was,

Dead silence.

 

Inspiration from the poem——The Morning After I Killed Myself by Meggie Royer

 

K S Lo Can Sing 2023

K S Lo Can Sing 2023

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Introduction

In the past few days, a promotional poster for K S Lo Can Sing 2023 has appeared on our Student Union, Genesis’ Instagram account, and our school English Blog.

But what is K S Lo Can Sing 2023? It’s the final large-scale event of our school year, organized by Genesis and the English Department. As suggested by its name, it’s a singing contest. However, unlike the Christmas Variety Show, the unique feature of K S Lo Can Sing is that participants can only perform English songs.

Having been suspended for four years due to the pandemic, this year’s contest promises to be anything but ordinary…

5A Jason Leung:

Throughout my six years of school life, I’ve only had the chance to watch K S Lo Can Sing twice. This time it definitely carries a lot of significance for me. The past two years of uneasy life under the pandemic have made me cherish every activity that is held. I am looking forward to this show.

Poster of K S Lo Can Sing 2023

Preparation

Like all school events, preparation is crucial. To provide the audience with an optimal viewing experience, participants must check their music and instruments by July 11th. Those working behind the scenes play an equally important role in ensuring that the music and instruments are loud enough, the lighting is operational, and everything is ready for show day.

Mr. Hung is instructing the participants on adjusting the volume of their instruments.

One participant is fine-tuning the volume of his bass.

The participants are testing their instruments.

The Show

After a month of preparation and planning, the show proceeded as scheduled. The moment Genesis’ MCs announced the beginning of the show, all the students were eagerly anticipating the performances.

5C Zhou Manwai, Chairperson of Genesis:

I anticipate that the show will be truly astonishing.
3A Alex Chan:

I am eager to listen to the melodious music and am genuinely excited about the performances.

MCs from Genesis

 

Since the entire show left a deep impression on me, let me introduce you to some of the standout performances.

The first one was “Just Say Hello” by Se jeung yau ye seung tung daai ga gong—a song released in 2022. Unlike the original, their rendition included rap.

4A Hero:

The reason I chose to participate is the three-year pandemic hiatus of K S Lo Can Sing. I seized this opportunity to sign up and perform! Besides, I seldom sing English songs, so I believe it’s a great time to challenge myself.

The song “Just Say Hello” was a fortunate find by my team and me on Instagram’s reels. We all thought the song was excellent, so we chose it as our competition piece. We modified the song a bit, adding some elements we created ourselves. We hope you enjoy it!

The second was “(Oppose)² – How Many Times”, a song released in 2021. What set this team apart was that all the members were MCs.

3D Timo:

I chose to participate because playing the piano is my favorite hobby, and I wanted a stage to perform for everyone. I’m fortunate that my friends invited me to take part in this competition, offering me a fantastic experience.

We are fans of MC Cheung, and “How Many Times” is our favorite English song from MC’s collection. That’s why we selected it as our competition song.

The third performance was “Rewrite the Stars” by Happy3. This song, from my favourite musical film, The Greatest Showman, was wonderfully executed. Despite the performer’s unassuming appearance, the performance was excellent, proving the adage “don’t judge a book by its cover”.

The fourth performance is “How Far I’ll Go” by Diamond gogogo!. This song is from a film that left a significant impression on me, Moana. I remember watching Moana when I was suffering from bronchitis… But let’s return to the topic at hand. A unique characteristic of this team is that the other two participants performed individually during the first half of the show.

3B Diamond:

I wanted to participate because I missed the performances at the Christmas Variety Show and K S Lo Got Talent. I didn’t want to miss out this time.
3D Paco:

I felt really nervous after singing, but I think it was worth it. I’ll definitely participate again next year!

The final performance was “If I Were a Boy” by Krystal, a song released in 2008. This song holds a special place for me as it was often played by my English teacher when I was learning “if-then” sentences in primary school. The most impressive part of the performance was the treble section, which left me in awe.

Krystal, alumni

I’m thrilled to have been able to participate in this event since it’s been cancelled for a few years. I’m extremely grateful to have been awarded First Runner-Up and K S Lo’s Favorite Performance.

Conclusion

K S Lo Can Sing 2023 will forever hold a special place in our hearts. Whether we were participants or part of the audience, the memories from this occasion will endure. As we close the 2022-2023 academic year, let’s hope that K S Lo Can Sing will continue to provide us with memorable experiences in the years to come!

An interesting way to de-stress: Mindfulness

An interesting way to de-stress: Mindfulness

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Have you ever heard of mindfulness (aka. Mindful Breathing)? Mindfulness means that we can purposefully focus on the present and be non-judgmental about things happening around us. During mindful breathing, we can be aware of our emotions, thoughts, and body movements. Mindful breathing is easy to acquire, and it is a good way to reduce our stress.

 

Practicing mindful breathing is easy. First, we choose an ideal location which can avoid any disturbances. Then, we close our eyes and relax our body. Meanwhile, we notice the air entering our noses, traveling in our lungs, and expanding our chests. We may hear other noises or have other thoughts in our minds. Instead of thinking about them, we should accept them and think that they are disappearing. Next, we focus on our necks and shoulders. When our shoulders have relaxed, we can bring our attention to our chests and other body parts. In the end, we focus on our past, present, and future and bring our attention to our body again. As you can see, mindful breathing does not need any tool. All you need is a quiet place to practice it.

 

In conclusion, mindfulness is an easy and interesting way for you to relax. Whenever we feel stressed, we can relax by practicing mindfulness. If you find difficulties practicing mindfulness, you can refer to the following websites, which guide you to practice mindfulness.

 

Useful links:

Cantonese version: Newlife 330

Putonghua version: MBSR

English version: Great Meditation

What’s the First Step Toward the Medical Industry?

What’s the First Step Toward the Medical Industry?

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Introduction

What’s the first step toward the medical industry? Attending admission talks at all universities? Reading every book and reference about medicine? There’s no definitive answer. My initial step into the medical industry was enrolling in the Summer Immersion Program (SIP) held by the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong. This five-day program included morning mini-lectures and afternoon interactive workshops, such as taking blood samples and VR anatomy classes. It was an unforgettable and enriching program, which I recommend to students interested in medicine. This blog entry isn’t intended to promote the program, but to share my experiences.

Mini Lectures

A mini lecture about obstetrics and gynaecology

Mini lectures offered exposure to a wide range of medical aspects, from pharmacology to medical ethics and traumatology. These lectures provided valuable knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of different career paths. If you’re considering the medical field, the program could pique your interest and educate you about diverse medical specialties. This exposure can assist in making informed decisions about your future career and provide a solid foundation for further studies in medicine. Furthermore, professors discussed factors to consider when choosing medicine, including challenges like dealing with blood and deceased bodies, which might help you reconsider your future career choice.

Hands-on experience

Taking blood samples from a mannequin

Another significant benefit of participating in the SIP was the unique chance to gain hands-on experience. The afternoon sessions usually consisted of interactive workshops, such as hospital visits, mock problem-based learning (PBL), and clinical and surgical skills workshops. For instance, we had the opportunity to attempt taking blood samples from a mannequin. These workshops offered not only practical skills but also insights into the daily responsibilities of aspiring medical professionals and healthcare providers.

Exclusive Session in HKU

The most memorable activity during the SIP was the mock PBL, a distinctive task not found in other universities (including CUHK). In a PBL, a case is given to the medical students, who then follow the clues to diagnose the disease. Through the mock PBL, I learned more about the Triage System in the A&E department, the interpretation of chest X-ray results, and the management of patients with “bad news”. Developing empathy and compassion toward patients is vital for future doctors. The mock PBL allowed us to experience these challenges and complexities, fostering essential skills such as communication, decision-making, and teamwork. Consequently, the PBL instilled a deep appreciation for the intricacies of medical practice.

Friendships and Mentorships

The SIP participants hailed from various schools across Hong Kong, including DGS, La Salle, St. Joseph, and many others. (I believe I was the only one from Tin Shui Wai.) Prior to the program, I was burdened by apprehensions, fearing that the intelligence of the other participants would hinder my ability to communicate effectively. These concerns led me to keep quiet during the registration process. However, my initial fears were unfounded. The participants turned out to be kind and friendly, and I was able to build friendships and exchange contacts on the first day itself.

In the VR anatomy class, we found the VR headset to be too hot and heavy. As a result, we “innovated” an unconventional method to operate the VR system.

Throughout the SIP, we worked in groups, sharing our thoughts and passion for medicine. The collective enthusiasm and intellectual exchange within the group fostered an atmosphere conducive to personal growth. Furthermore, we had mentors, Joba and Joma, in each group. They guided us through the PBL and generously shared their knowledge and experiences. Their unwavering support and encouragement bolstered our confidence and reaffirmed our potential to make a significant impact in the field of medicine.

P.S. Interestingly, our group consisted entirely of introverts, and we only managed to break the ice on the final day. Joba and Joma wrote each of us an encouraging letter, and we reciprocated with heartfelt notes of appreciation for their guidance over the five days. It was a heartwarming experience to see everyone expressing their thoughts to each other, and the mentors were equally grateful to see the introverted members opening up.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the SIP was an extraordinary opportunity that provided me with a unique foundation for my future career path. The informative lectures, hands-on experiences, collaborative learning environment, friendships, and mentorships all contributed to a transformative experience. Even though I missed some extra lessons at school, I still encourage F5 students to enroll in the program during the summer. It was a worthy program. Lastly, thank you for reading this blog, and here’s a friendly reminder: Don’t be shy; be brave and make some friends!

 

All about happiness

All about happiness

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Have you ever heard of happiness? You don’t have to be happy all the time, but being happy is important for your mental health because happiness can enhance your level of well-being. In the past, scholars have conducted research on happiness. Do you know what scholars think about happiness? 

 

The sources of happiness are divided into two types (i.e., hedonism and eudaemonism). Hedonism suggests that happiness is based on our sensations. For example, if you are a dog lover, you will be happy immediately when you are stroking a dog. Hedonism emphasizes maximizing pleasure and minimizing displeasure. However, this kind of happiness cannot last for a long time. Then, people start to focus on eudaemonism to find out long-lasting happiness. Eudaemonism suggests that happiness is based on our values. We are happy when we do what is worth doing. These activities have meaning and purposes. Also, they can fulfill our potential. For example, your goal is to get the highest mark in your Chinese tests. When you achieve it, you have greater life satisfaction. However, your goal may involve considerable personal hardship and effort over the long term. You may feel frustrated in the process. Some scholars believe that hedonism and eudaemonism could not effectively explain all the factors of happiness. Then, they developed other models of happiness. 

 

Martin Seligman has a “PERMA” model to explain more about happiness. “P” means positive emotions (e.g., hope, interest, joy, and love). “E” means engagement. We can learn, grow and nurture our happiness. We will be happy when we engage in something we love. “R” means relationship. We are happy because we have harmonious relationships with our family, friends, and even our teachers! “M” means meaning. We are happy because we believe that we have purposes, which give us a sense of direction in life! For example, you want to achieve your aspirations in your future career, or you want to realize a dream! These are your purposes in life. “A” means accomplishment. It is similar to eudaemonism. We are happy because we can reach our goals and master our endeavors to progress towards goals and competence. “PERMA model” provides us a direction to be happy, which fosters our well-being! 

 

In conclusion, scholars believe that happiness can be explained by hedonism, eudaemonism, as well as “PERMA” model. Although the concepts may be a bit challenging for you, you can still find that being happy is easy!  

Cherish what we have

Cherish what we have

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When I revisit memory lane,
I rewind all the happiness I used to gain.
Everything looks new and unfamiliar,
so many things for me to refigure.

Amidst the memories I remember,
when they make themselves fonder,
I know that it’s time for me to wake up,
and to stop looking like I gave up.

The time when my family stood by my side,
Their smiling faces forever in my mind to reside.
I wonder when we’ll reunite again,
As the sadness creeps in and begins.

Days when we can chat together face-to-face,
But now replaced by the lonely space.
I hated the arguments between us before,
Now I suddenly don’t hate them anymore.

Today, not together,
With no time for each other.
Though the time for our silly little chats is gone,
At least we still have our cherished memories that last long.

This one’s for you, my dear parents,
Though struggles may keep us apart,
Our love remains steadfast and apparent,
And shall guide us back to each other’s heart.

Five things about depression

Five things about depression

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Have you ever heard about depression? How much do you know about it? Last week, I attended a mental health first aid standard course offered by Mental Health First Aid International to learn more about different mental health diseases. In this article, I will share with you more about depression. 

 

What is depression? 

Depression is a mental disorder which affects patients’ lives and their interpersonal relationships. Patients usually have depressed moods which last for at least two consecutive weeks. They usually are not interested in any activities or hobbies because they do not have the motivation to engage in the activities. Sometimes, they even feel guilty when they believe that they are useless. Some patients who suffer from serious depression may think of committing suicide. 

 

What should I do if I have a friend who has some depression symptoms? 

You should remember that you are not a doctor who can offer medicines to your friends. However, you should introduce some resources to them. The Hospital Authority has a website which includes all the psychiatric day hospitals (website: click here). Apart from telling them to visit the psychiatric day hospitals, you can also provide a list of clinical psychologists offered by the Hong Kong Psychological Society for them (website: click here). 

 

What should I do if my friends are unwilling to see a psychiatrist? 

It is understandable that your friends may be unwilling to see a psychiatrist, especially when people have prejudice over some depression patients. However, the earlier the intervention takes place, the higher the chance of recovery. You can convince them to seek professional help with the right attitude. First, you should be less judgmental and accept your friends’ depression symptoms. When you persuade them, you should let them talk about their feelings first. Then, it would help if you were genuine and empathetic. Instead of expressing your opinion, you should let your friends understand that you are trying to step into their shoes. When they feel your sincerity, they are encouraged to seek professional help. 

 

How can I help my friends apart from providing some resources to them? 

The treatment of depression is a long journey. Unlike infectious diseases, which you can recover quickly, depression takes a lot of time to recover. You can encourage them when they feel depressed and hopeless. You can also remind them that life is full of hope and they can finish the whole treatment. 

 

My friends tell me that they want to commit suicide due to depression; what should I do? 

You should stay calm first. Then, you should ask them if they have any planning to commit suicide. For example, you can ask them when and where they are going to commit suicide. Also, you should ask them if they have any past experiences of committing suicide. The more details they tell you about their suicide plans, the higher risk for them to commit suicide. When you know the time and places where they are going to commit suicide, you can call the police and get to the places as soon as possible. When you approach them, you should let them express their feelings and thoughts. Meanwhile, you should not say something like “Be positive!” and “Everything will be all right.” Those sentences allow them to have more negative thoughts in their minds. You should keep accompanying them before the police officers arrive. 

 

In conclusion, depression is a mental disorder which affects patients’ daily lives. When your friends have some depression symptoms, you should offer some resources for them to seek professional help and encourage them to finish the whole treatment. If they want to commit suicide, you should accompany them and call the police. Now, you know what to do when your friends have depression, right?