Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the US. Close to 800,000 people die due to suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds. As a teenager myself, it is safe to say that most teenagers face this issue in one way or another. Almost all of my friends have struggled with their mental health, and as a person who has struggled just as much, I find it quite sad that Suicide Prevention has only a week. A WEEK!

People our age usually do not sympathize with others that have mental illnesses. I can not even remember how many times I’ve heard “she is so crazy” or “there is nothing wrong with him, he is just being dramatic”. Do not forget about the inconsiderate and disgusting comments like “go kill yourself”. You see, these are things that teenagers are uncomfortable with talking about. They believe that if it does not concern them or someone close to them, then it is a joke. That is the sad truth about our generation. We do not care until it is our sibling, best friend, or self.

Everyone is not the same. Some people go through life and experience a great deal of pain. They come to a point in life where they feel as if they can not continue living in this scary, cruel world. It does not make them weak, and it does not make them any different than the rest of us. It does not make them any less of a person.

I think it is important to acknowledge suicide and those with mental illnesses for more than just one week. It is something that should be acknowledged every single day. Within this one week, a person with depressive disorder somewhere probably felt ten times worse because the most acknowledgment they got was the suicide prevention hotline posted on the bathroom stall underneath the silly cliche “you are not alone”.

Remember to check on your loved ones. Recognize the signs. Ask. Be there. Keep them safe.