--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There used to be a secrecy and shame…" description: "\"There used to be a secrecy and shame around depression and mental health. But saying you have it out loud reduces that and starts a conversation.\" — Fe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54b/fearne-cotton-4943_communication_there-used-to-be-a-secrecy-and-shame-aro_989148.jpg" --- # There used to be a secrecy and shame around depression and… ![“There used to be a secrecy and shame around depression and mental health. But saying you have it out loud reduces that and starts a conversation.” quote by Fearne Cotton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54b/fearne-cotton-4943_communication_there-used-to-be-a-secrecy-and-shame-aro_989148.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54b/fearne-cotton-4943_communication_there-used-to-be-a-secrecy-and-shame-aro_989148.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54b/fearne-cotton-4943_communication_there-used-to-be-a-secrecy-and-shame-aro_989148.jpg) > “There used to be a secrecy and shame around depression and mental health. But saying you have it out loud reduces that and starts a conversation.” [Fearne Cotton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fearne-cotton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Openly discussing depression reduces stigma and encourages dialogue, fostering a healthier societal approach to mental health. **In simple terms:** Talking about depression openly helps reduce shame. Key Takeaway Speak openly to destigmatize mental illness. Themes mental health stigma communication well‑being social support Mood empathetic hopeful encouraging Type motivational educational public health When to use this quote - therapy sessions - school mental health programs - workplace wellness initiatives - community support groups - media campaigns Key Concepts psychology public health media influence Questions to Reflect On - What barriers prevent people from speaking about depression? - How can media responsibly promote mental‑health conversations? A Different Perspective Some may feel uncomfortable sharing personal struggles publicly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Depression Mental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression-mental-2012766/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Health Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-saying-2012767/) [Illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illness/) [Loud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loud/) [Mental health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health/) [Secrecy Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrecy-shame-2012765/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Shame Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame-depression-2012764/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) ## Related quotes > [There is enormous shame around depression of any kind and at any time. 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People complain about tax dollars and say we don't have the money.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-long/i-think-we-need-to-talk-about-mental-illness-a-lot-more-people/) [Nia Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-long/) > [This tendency to avoid problems and the emotional suffering inherent in them is the primary basis of all human mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/this-tendency-to-avoid-problems-and-the-emotional-suffering-inherent/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Death is in truth an illness from which we recover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/death-is-in-truth-an-illness-from-which-we-recover/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Telling a story of illness, one pulls a thread through a narrow opening flanked on one side by shame and the other by trivia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-griffin/telling-a-story-of-illness-one-pulls-a-thread-through-a-narrow/) [Susan Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-griffin/) ## More by Fearne Cotton > [I like to see people in the day for a walk or for coffee. I don't like going out at night. I don't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fearne-cotton/i-like-to-see-people-in-the-day-for-a-walk-or-for-coffee-i-don-t-like/) [Fearne Cotton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fearne-cotton/) > [I've been thinking about anger quite a lot. 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