 According to Peter Fulham of "The Atlantic", Styron was effectively able to portray depression, which was typically difficult to describe, and its devastating impacts on not only his own life, but on those of others also afflicted by the disorder.By doing so, he was able to eliminate a substantial amount of stigma surrounding depression, which encouraged individuals with the illness to share their experiences and seek help.Through his memoir, Styron ultimately served as a liaison between people with and without depression and as a leading advocate for mental health overall.