Picture a girl. She’s standing next to you on the sidewalk.

Do you notice her scars?

They're on her left wrist, but they've seemed to fade.

A friend of yours tells you, "I've heard of ‘emo’ people like that."

Later, you may ask around or look up online what the concept of being ‘emo’ is. You might think, "Why would someone intentionally hurt themselves?"

Soon, you figure out some things from the information you gathered:

1. Self-harm is found in 1 in 12 teens, and it is often associated with depression.

2. Depression is a mental illness.

3. Mental illnesses are fairly common in America (approx. 1 in 5 teens).

Maybe you start to wonder what it all means, and how you haven't seen these occurrences more often.

Some statements I've heard before on this topic (which you may be thinking as well) have sounded something like...

"No way these statistics are accurate. I would be able to tell if that many people were affected by this...right?"

"That girl on the street was a special case. That kind of stuff doesn't happen where I'm from."

I wish I could say those common thoughts are true, but they're not.

That girl on the sidewalk could have been me. In fact, I am that "special case" that "doesn't happen around here." The thing is, I'm not a "special" case. People like me can (and do) live in your community. As disheartening as it may be, the statistics are real, and they are reflected in all of the communities in our nation.

20% of American teens suffer the debilitating effects of mental illness.

50% of long-term cases of mental illness in the United States begin by age 14, and 75% begin by age 24.

100% of Americans should be aware of the debilitating effects of mental illness (and how to catch the warning signs).

Do your part by being aware of what's happening within your community. If you are concerned about a friend, co-worker, family member, etc., contact a professional (ex. a doctor or psychologist). For more information regarding warning signs, how/where to get help in your community, and more, visit the following websites:

Knowing the warning signs: http://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Know-the-Warning-Si...

Where to find therapy in your area: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/finding-therapy

How/when to find help: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/find...

Be aware of the girl on your sidewalk.