Crazy (mentally deranged in an aggressive manner) is a word used very loosely in today's society. Nowadays, crazy can be determined by almost anything: from following your crush religiously on Snapchat to attempting to end your life. But what really determines if you're "crazy"? Are people with mental illnesses considered "crazy"? Contrary to what is portrayed on television about asylums in the 70's ("American Horror Story Asylum") or medication that makes you become a sleepwalking killer ("Side Effects"), mental health is not always to these extremities.

In fact, 16% of African Americans suffer from mental illnesses and majority of these people live in the South. Did you know that black people are 20% more likely to be diagnosed with a mental illness by age 21 than white people? The most common mental issue black people suffer from is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which is diagnosed after a traumatic event such as war or death in the family. Many people don't even realize that they suffer from PTSD because symptoms don't show up until they have a "manic episode," which is when a person gets triggered by something (it could be anything from another person to a specific scent) and they recall all of the trauma. Common symptoms include insomnia, paranoia, loneliness, excessive crying, or depression.

Being sick is embarrassing and it causes so many people to become too prideful to go seek help or even take medication in fear of not being understood. In some cases, teens and young adults have not sought help because they are afraid of getting bullied. Black teens are 15 percent more likely to attempt suicide than white teens. This is why more schools are advertising counseling because your friends might not know how to handle your feelings and may end up calling you "crazy." Even throughout adulthood, having someone to talk to in a safe place hasn't hurt anyone. Just because you talk to someone does not mean that you are "crazy." It means you are strong enough to know that you can't do everything alone.

If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please call the suicide hotline:

1-800-273-8255