Suicide is a word that needs to be said out loud, read and heard. Those seven letters hold a lot of heaviness, a lot of emotion and a hell of a lot of pain. That word needs recognition, conversation and attention.

It might make you feel uneasy or uncomfortable, but suicide is not about you. It is about those who need your help. According to the World Health Organization, almost 3,000 people take their own life every day. It is clear that our world needs to raise awareness, educate, and spread mindfulness of this subject. So talk about it.

Morgan Domijan, senior Pi Beta Phi at the University of Missouri, said, “You look at people everyday and you have normal conversations with them but at the end of the day you have no idea what they are going through.” Internal struggle can't always be seen when you are playing flag football with your main dude, it can't be seen when she's smiling at graduation, or when he's blowing out his birthday candles.

It's likely the inner ache that people around us battle every day won't be brought up in their GroupMe conversation or seen on your Twitter feed. One of the most productive ways of showing your support for the unknown is by contagiously spreading the severity of the issue. It's about abandoning your comfort zone and screaming to the world that this issue needs attention and it can't wait.

Julia Schroer, senior Pi Beta Phi, moved to arrange a Lantern Memorial in remembrance. Creating a Facebook event 24 hours prior to the event, over 200 friends confirmed their attendance. They then had to overnight 150 additional lanterns for the event due to the eye-opening support. It took 1 night for 200 people to organize and show their support. It took 1 person, with 1 idea, and 1 social media outlet. Shroer proves just how apparent suicide is in our lives, your lives, their lives. Suicide is affecting people sitting in your 300 person lecture right now as you read this article. It's affecting the guy across from you studying for his Econ exam as you read this article in the library. It's affecting the store clerk that just helped you find the perfect formal dress at the boutique downtown. It's affecting the personality-guy, the football quarterback, the girl-next-door. It's affecting everyone. So stand up and let them know you're here for them. 

Mizzou students gathered on Francis Quadrangle the Sunday evening of September 14, four days after World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10th.  The air was warm as nearly 100 hands let go of lanterns with hand-written notes scrawled alongside. Those who gathered donated $5 for lanterns, totaling to $550 that was then donated to the 24-hour Mid-Missouri Crisis Line.   

The memorial aimed to speak to our Mizzou family, in hope to clarify that no one is alone in this. Just as those who are currently struggling, or have struggled, are not alone, neither are those that have been affected by suicide and their losses. Domijan spoke, “We are here to support our love for those we have loss. We are here to stand together.”   

Spread awareness by educating yourself about suicide and the warning signs to look for. The internal battle your friend might be facing may not be evident as their love for sushi or favorite movie. As painful or scary it is, those seven letters, that one word, can take someone away. Consume them. So talk about it, read about it, listen.  It should be as important as closing the garage before bed, locking your front door, or walking your best friend home. Protect your friends and family and talk about what no one else may have the courage to talk about.