Tuesday afternoon while I was sitting in class, I got news that one of my good friends' boyfriend had taken his life. Now, this isn't going to be an article where I talk about how close we were or how long I've known him or how we were bestfriends because honestly, none of them are true. I met this boy once the Friday before when I was visiting home and hanging out with some friends. He was very sweet and kind and he treated everyone so well. My friend liked him so much and they were great together. That whole night they were laughing together and having fun. He seemed happy.

This is why suicide awareness is so important. This is why you can't judge someone after a tragedy like suicide because they "seemed okay." Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. Each year, around 44,193 Americans commit suicide, an average of 121 per day. Next to suicide, there is an average of 494,169 people who visit hospitals each year because of self-harm. That's just the number of people who visit hospitals, not the actual number of people who self-harm in the US. According to the number of people that visit hospitals for self-inflicted harm, there are 12 people who self-harm for every reported death by suicide. These numbers can't be calculated perfectly considering most suicide attempts are unreported and surveys suggest that more than 1 million people in the US intentionally self-harm each year.

Why is this important? The number of suicides and suicide attempts is rising each year. Suicide education and prevention are so important in today's society. Knowing the warning signs of suicide is more than helpful when looking out for friends and family. Warning signs of suicide can include talking about feeling empty, feeling like a burden, withdrawing from friends and family, using alcohol or drugs heavily, or talking about wanting to die or harm themselves. If none of these are happening, in general just keep checking up on your friends and family. Ask them if they're okay. Ask them how they're feeling. Ask them if they need anything. Simple things can mean so much to someone who is hurting and feel like they have no other way out. Listen to your friends without judgement and make sure that they know you're there for them. Many people who commit or attempt suicide feel like they are alone and they have no one to talk to.

If you are feeling suicidal, there are ways to get better. There are people who care about you. You are important. If you need someone to talk to, you can use the suicide prevention lifeline which is a 24/7, free, and confidential support system for people who are in distress. The number is 1-800-273-8255. You can also find more information about the hotline here. and more about suicide prevention here.

Remember, you are important.