As mental health awareness month approaches, we need to remember those who have taken their own lives. We also need to address why there are people with loving roots and a bright future that are led to think this is their only option.

I have come to find that there are the types of friends who show you kindness and lend you a helping hand when you need it, and there are those who do not.

The ones who do not are the ones who stick around for the good times, and then when they realize you’re sad for more time than is convenient for them, they get stubborn.

“Well she was complaining too much.”

“Well the bad times outweighed the good ones anyway.”

“I’m not sorry that I was busy.”

“I cut her off because she stopped being fun.”

Some people are surrounded by these self-centered “friends” and their ignorant thoughts.

Pretty soon, they take offense to your sadness. It’s as if your depression is an insult to the state of their kindness. They reached out that one time, so you should be happy now. Why aren't you happy now?

This continues for weeks, and weeks turn into months, and suddenly you stop hearing from these “friends.” You keep going about life as you always have, but only because it’s routine, only because it was once every fiber of your being to be so passionate, so hardworking, and so hungry for the future. But now you're alone and lonely. Now you’re just keeping a tally on your wall; you’re counting the days.

How does someone live like this? How does someone continue with the vigor they used to have when their loving roots have been out of sight for months, their bright future lost its light, and nobody is around to tell them that these dark thoughts aren't true? How does someone venture into the unknown, the thing we call life, alone?

All you needed was a hug, a helping hand, a plan for the weekend, someone to look you in the eyes and tell you that you were worth their time.

And now you don’t have a voice to speak up, because that’s just complaining, and you do that too much.

Sooner or later, the days stop passing by as fast as they used to.

You lose sight.

You’re detached.

And the tally marks stop appearing on your wall.

Don’t you dare cut someone off because they complain too often. This is the first warning sign. These people need a friend. That’s all it takes. May is mental health awareness month, so let’s be aware and prevent the preventable.