I was on Twitter earlier this week and I saw a tweet that really bugged me. The caption said “Reasons to live:” and then, there was a picture of white nothingness.

Now, some days I can totally relate to this because life does get hard, I get stressed, and all I want to do is curl up in a ball and stay there forever. But I didn’t realize how serious this type of tweet could actually be, and how certain people could actually relate to this on a deep level. A level that coincides with depression, sadness, loneliness, and self-hate. Just because some of us who saw this tweet can relate, but suddenly brush it off, doesn't mean others can do the same.

Just because I don’t have suicidal thoughts doesn’t mean no one does.

Unfortunately, it took some time for me to realize how serious this issue actually is. I have been lucky enough to not have had anyone close to me pass away from suicide. But imagine someone scrolling through twitter and seeing this tweet, and how easily they can be reminded of a loved one who they lost in such a tragic way.

Suicide is just something you don't joke about. You never know who might have lost someone to suicide. You never know what people are going through, especially when interacting with someone who can hide their depression so well. These kinds of messages are lowering confidence in adolescents, and are promoting a culture that says nothing good ever happens in life. These messages are discouraging those with depression issues from seeking help and are in fact confirming their negative feelings toward life.

These kinds of messages are promoting suicide.

Maybe I’m playing devil's advocate. Maybe I’m playing advocate for those who are too afraid to express how they feel. Either way, these messages, although seemingly harmless to most of us, are actually extremely detrimental and could be the last thing that pushes someone over the edge.

Is that worth a couple retweets?