September is National Suicide Awareness Month. 41,000 individuals die by suicide each year. Suicide has become a widespread issue, especially among college students and is not something that can be kept hidden anymore. It is up to us to stop the stigma that surrounds mental health, especially suicide, and I believe that the only way to do that is to share my experiences with mental illness and suicide.

Suicide is an important issue for me, as I know how it feels to think the world would be better off without you. Two years ago, during the fall semester of my sophomore year, I was in a dark place. So dark I had to be hospitalized for a week in a psychiatric facility. I felt alone and like nobody cared about me. My friends didn't understand, I was draining them, and I didn't know what to do. I just wanted to give up. When I expressed this to a friend, she told me I just wanted attention. At this point, I was truly convinced no one would ever understand me again.

But God, being rich in mercy sustained me through this. Through counseling, medication, a week in the psychiatric facility, and genuine people who cared about me and my well being, I did not give up. I kept fighting. And you can too.

Two years later and I am so glad I didn't end my life. Since those dark few months, I've been to New York City, California, and Colorado all for the first time. I have made new friends, had new experiences and learned more about life and Jesus than I ever imagined I would. I've met people who've had similar experiences who've seen me and loved me and I've been able to help others who were struggling.

If you feel like you have no purpose, that no one understands you, and the world would be better off without you, you are so wrong. You were put on this earth for a unique and specific purpose. God loves you so much. Don't give up because He's not finished with you yet.

National Suicide Hotline:800-273-TALK

NAMI Hotline: 800-950-NAMI

CRISIS TEXT LINE: Text HOME to 741741