At the start of her life, Jill Furan of Sioux Falls lived like a normal kid.  She enjoyed being outside and socializing with her friends.  But, at the age of 10, things dramatically changed!

"In my mind, I just realized I didn't want to go outdoors during recess and play with my friends even though I had friends.  I was just pulling away and isolating and didn't quite know why.  Later on I learned it had a name.  It's called DEPRESSION!

And it took 3 years before Jill sought help.

"I was about 13 years old and things were really bad.  A friend reached out and said 'you need to tell me what's going on.  We need to get you help.'  She gave me the strength to talk to my parents.  They saw what was going on too.  But it was something that confused them.  Together it was a learning process for us to find out how I could get assistance."

But, recovery wasn't overnight!

"There are really good days where I think the depression is over.  Then something will hit me a few weeks later and I go back down.  Really, I reach out over and over...and continue to get myself help."

While in the throes of depression, Jill wanted to end her life.

"Looking back, I think about all the things I would have missed out on if I was successful..  When the depression returns, I think of all the memories  over the past 11 years that would have been lost.  That's what keeps me going forward and knowing that I don't need to make that permanent decision.  There are good times ahead."

If you're suffering from depression, Jill offers this message of encouragement.

"If you don't have hope today, just hang on until tomorrow!  Keep telling yourself everything will get better.  The hope will come back."

Jill Furan will be speaking about depression at the following Siouxland Library branches:

Ronning Branch on October 7th, Caille Branch on October 8th and at the Main Library on October 9th.

October 5-11, 2014 is National Mental Illness Awareness Week.

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