Stephen Hawking shared a message to help those with depression. And it's truly beautiful.

Yesterday, we lost one of the greatest minds the world has yet seen.

Stephen Hawking was the man behind theories so extraordinary, most of us can barely scratch surface in understanding their complexity. A man who, even as his body became paralysed by disease, kept pushing his brain into the depths of time and space.

When the theoretical physicist was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at 21, he was given only two years to live. He lived until he was 76.

And in those years, as well as blowing us away with his scientific discoveries, raising three children and marrying twice, he also blessed us with some unforgettable words of wisdom.

See some of Hawking’s memorable quotes in the video below.

Among the most famous was when he shared the three most important pieces of advice he ever gave to his three children.

But perhaps even more poignant was a message he recently shared for people struggling with mental health issues.

In 2016, the Professor was speaking before a crowd of 400 as part of the BBC Reith Lectures in London about black holes – to which he dedicated most of his life’s work.

Among his biggest discoveries was that black holes were not – in fact – completely black. Instead, they dribble radiation and particles into space before, over many aeons, exploding and disappearing.

And ever so beautifully, Hawking managed to mould this into a metaphor to help people with depression.

“The message of this lecture is that black holes ain’t as black as they are painted” he said.

“They are not the eternal prisons they were once thought.

“Things can get out of a black hole both on the outside and possibly to another universe. So if you feel you are in a black hole, don’t give up – there’s a way out.”

Thank you, for your unending inspiration.

RIP.

If you’re suffering from depression or anxiety and need help, or just someone to chat to, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or BeyondBlue on 1300 22 4636.

LISTEN: People have started wearing necklaces with their mental illnesses on them, and we can’t decide whether it’s empowering or problematic.

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