Depression and suicide might not seem like things which will affect you. After all, it’s not something you hear about on the news. In actuality, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US. The same number of people die through intentional self-harm as do by drugs, and there are about 30x more suicides than gang-related deaths. While drugs and gangs show up on the news often, depression and suicide does not. Every day, one soldier dies from suicide - more than are killed in duty. This statistic gets worse with youth - for ages 15-24, suicide is actually the 3rd leading cause of death.
The United States is only the tip of the iceberg - for every nationally published suicide in the US, hundreds of people die silently across the globe. 32 other nations around the world far exceed the US’s suicide rate, especially among teenagers. This is a problem that can only be solved by education and grassroots support - we must all work together.
Every small effort can make a difference. By educating in your own local communities, you can spread awareness. Over days, months, and years, we can reduce the suicide rate to a fraction of what it is today. These articles serve as guidelines to use for educating yourself and others.