Understanding Depression and Its Impact
Depression often progresses silently, but its effects are undeniable. It affects sleep, energy, concentration, relationships, and daily performance. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 5.7% of adults worldwide live with depression, impacting around 332 million people. Depression is more common in women and can lead to suicide if not addressed.
Aerie and Aquí Estoy’s Collaborative Effort
Recognizing the urgency to address depression without stigma, Aerie (a brand under American Eagle Outfitters) and Aquí Estoy (an international organization providing free emotional support via WhatsApp through trained volunteers) joined forces. Their meeting emphasized the importance of listening as the initial act of emotional support, helping individuals in crisis navigate towards timely assistance.
Aquí Estoy’s Origin and Mission
Juan Pablo Villani, co-founder of Aquí Estoy, shared that the initiative stemmed from a personal crisis experience and the question: why is seeking help so challenging when it’s needed most due to shame, fear of bothering others, or lack of someone to talk to in the moment?
His response was creating an emotional support channel via messaging, backed by a trained and supervised volunteer network. Villani also mentioned being invited to a conversation in Davos during the World Economic Forum, discussing technology’s role in social impact solutions.
Key Takeaways from Aerie Real Talk
Moderated by psychologist and Abiertamente founder Mafer Medina, the discussion emphasized that supporting someone doesn’t mean solving their problems. Listening doesn’t imply minimizing or offering generic phrases; it’s about acknowledging their pain and guiding them towards appropriate help.
Why Talking About Depression Matters
Experts stressed that depression isn’t fleeting sadness but a disorder causing prolonged depressed mood or loss of interest/pleasure, affecting familial, social, and occupational life. They also highlighted that silence and stigma remain barriers; the later help is sought, the more difficult it becomes to manage a crisis.
The Support Ecosystem
Annette Clavijo, Operations Head of Aquí Estoy, explained the ecosystem supporting emotional assistance:
- Training
- Protocols
- Supervision
- Volunteer Care
The goal is to provide safe, timely, and human emotional support without replacing therapy. Natalia Dayan (LMSW, Global Expansion Director) emphasized expanding access to culturally sensitive Spanish-language mental health services and directing individuals to reliable resources when necessary.
Volunteer Testimony
Rosbel Serrano, a Mexican Aquí Estoy volunteer, underscored the core message: listening is trained and learning to “let go” of heard stories so they can be addressed by broader networks. Training is ongoing, and every story and person matters.
Serrano noted that the natural inclination is to “fix” problems with advice, but Aquí Estoy’s model trains against this. It’s about listening so individuals can name their struggles and organize their thoughts.
Call for More Volunteers
Aquí Estoy, present in over 20 countries and having helped de-escalate more than 50,000 youth crises via digital channels, seeks more volunteers to scale their support capacity.
Mexico plays a significant role, with 17% of those who write originating from the country and 27% of volunteers being Mexican. They’ve also partnered with Crisis Text Line, an organization providing confidential 24/7 emotional support via text in English and Spanish to strengthen capacity and accessibility.
Interested individuals can register at aquiestoy.chat to join the volunteer network. The organization offers online training, support, and supervision with defined shifts to care for both those receiving and providing support.
Dayan reiterated that listening is trained and cared for through protocols, training, and live supervision to ensure human yet secure support. The volunteer network doesn’t diagnose or replace therapy; it accompanies critical moments, validates emotions, helps de-escalate crises, and directs individuals to appropriate resources.
The meeting concluded with an invitation for more individuals to join as volunteers, emphasizing Aquí Estoy’s need for “more ears and hearts willing to turn empathy into action,” particularly to expand coverage and advance toward a more accessible service.
“Remember, emotional support means someone in a risky moment finds a human presence on the other side. It’s about expressing what they can’t voice aloud, receiving validation instead of judgment, reducing crisis intensity to choose a safer next step, and feeling less alone for the first time that day,” concluded Juan Pablo Villani.
