“Suicide carries in its aftermath a level of confusion and devastation that is, for the most part, beyond description.”

— Kay Redfield Jamison

Numbness. Shock. These are the things that swept over me at the end of 2020. This is the first time that I have been personally affected by this action. This is something that I feel a lot of people are wanting to keep “under rug swept” if you will. It is something that needs to be talked about. It is something that needs attention. We should not be ashamed to discuss it. And we must start to do what we can to begin this courageous battle with the mind. Mental illness plagues so many. My friend decided that it was too much, and ended his battle. People should not be ashamed of these things. We need to try and help as best we can. Sometimes, you can only do so much, and that is all you can do. But we have to try.

A few statistics from nami.org:

-1 in 5 U.S. Adults experience mental illness

-1 in 20 experience serious mental illness

-17% of youth (6-17 years old) experience mental health disorders

-78% of people who die by suicide are male

-Suicide is the 10th

leading cause of death in the U.S.

-The overall suicide rate has increased 35% since 1999.

-Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10-34.

I don't know about you but 78% of males commit suicide is extremely high to me. My

friend being male, and I myself being male, want to be a part of the solution. I am going

to try and hold programs on mental illness, stress, anxiety, among other things once the pandemic slows down, so that I can try and somewhat help the situation. I know that this won't solve the problem, and it can't help everyone, but if it helps at least one person it is very much worth it. I wasn't going to have a new year's resolution, but I think advocacy is becoming something I can do.

My friend, I will miss you a lot. I will miss our adventures that we would go on. There

will never been adventures quite like ours. It won't be the same. But I hope you watch

down on your family, your friends, and of course myself knowing that you are missed on said adventures. I will think of you fondly for your kindness, the love you had for others, and your smile that could make everyone happy. Where ever you may be I am sending love to you duder.

Thank you.