I can honestly say I wasn't expecting this strong of a negative reaction to this.
I grew up with a father who believed (still does, to some extent) that the only reason I was depressed was because I had decided to be depressed. This caused no end of frustration for the both of us, as I couldn't figure out how to make him understand what I was really going through and he couldn't understand why I never "just stopped" being depressed. Over time it got hammered into my head that the way I felt was my own fault, that nobody else could change or help change my way of thinking, and that it wasn't even that big of a deal to begin with. Basically, that the cure for depression was to stop acting depressed and to just get on with my life. I'm still dealing with that mindset today, even though I have now finally in my twenties started to seek (and get) help.
I do realize that being personally, individually recognized, appreciated and understood is what helps the most. But I also know how uncommon that is.
Maybe I have a slightly different way of looking at things, what with being in Norway. People don't talk to each other here unless they've known each other since junior high. As a general rule you do not look at or acknowledge any person on the street you do not personally know, and you certainly don't talk to them. Trying to find someone who can and will be able to look you in the eyes and support you directly is a slim-to-none chance, and it doesn't help any when you feel so hated and looked-down-on by the rest of the world that you isolate yourself more and more from human contact. And when you live with the idea that, really, nobody cares about you or how terribly you're handling such a minor and unremarkable "disease", I just thought that having something to show support, regardless of how impersonal or easy it may be, would be appreciated. But hey, clearly I don't speak for everyone when I say that I'd appreciate seeing someone go through the tiny effort required to look silly and mar their appearance for a day, just to show that they spent a sympathetic second to think about someone they don't even know but who they recognize needs the support, rather than not making the effort because "depression isn't even a real disease".
Is a black X the best way of showing this? No, I don't really think so. I actually think it's amazingly insensitive with the "alternative" to putting it on your face; which is to mark your wrist. However, it is something that's semi-organized to the point that people might actually do it.
But I guess I was wrong about this making a generally positive difference. So, come the twelfth, I personally will appreciate the people I see who've done this or something similar. But I won't do it myself.
Suits me just fine, really. I've got a checkup with my psychiatrist that day.