Think of your Intro to Economics class in college. Imagine yourself sitting in the creaky, wooden desk, with two people on your left, and two more on your right. Statistically, with a 1:5 ratio, at least one of you suffers from a mental illness. Within this one class, if you attend a large university, there could be around 60 people with a mental illness or around five at a small liberal arts college.

Does this statistic surprise you? If yes, that is probably because talking about mental illness is very taboo in today’s society. Many people associate mental illness with the stigma of being crazy or weak, but that is not the case. Mental illness is the real deal, and those with one deserve just as much immediate attention as one would if they broke a bone. The problem is, you cannot see a mental illness like you can see a broken bone, and this effect makes it seem more dismissible.

Now we must recognize how mental illnesses create a stigma in society. What is a stigma? A stigma is when something, such as mental illness, is associated with something derogatory, such as weakness. This derogatory association causes suffering people to avoid talking about their problems, or worse, ending a life. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in the United States for people ages 10-24, and 90 percent of those who commit suicide have an underlying mental illness. This means that if we, as a society, could get rid of the stigma surrounding mental illness, we could save lives. So spread the word; start with your hometown or your college campus. Sometimes, it is not even about going to sit with that person who is always eating in the dining hall alone, but about reaching out to the people closest to you.

College students think they need to show everyone back home that they are having the time of their lives and adjusting to school right away. Well, here’s a tip: When you write in your GroupMe with your high school friends asking how everyone is doing and they all say they are doing great—they are probably not telling you the whole truth. Reach out individually to your friends and ask how they are really doing. Most importantly, make sure they know that if something is wrong, they can tell you.

Often, people with mental illness think that by telling people their problems, they are complaining, which has a negative connotation since we grow up on the notion that we should not complain. If you think you know someone going through a hard time, listen to them. Also, if you are that person who thinks you cannot talk about what is going on in your head, think again. Mental illness is not shameful. Look at the people on either side of you, and then look at the people on the other side of them, too. Statistically, at least one of the five of you is suffering from mental illness. It's time to talk about it.