Prevent suicide

 A year ago, a close camp friend of mine took his own life.The countless times I have tried to wrap my head around the very idea, that this boy that smiled from ear-to-ear, took his own life and is now gone, pains me. Needless to say, I was well aware of the impact he had on me and all my friends. He was that person who had the entire room locked in a trance. His personality was a magnet and his ever-growing spirit never failed to bring up the energy wherever he went.But none of this compares to the toll death takes on you, especially when it’s a good friend. The worst part is when you begin to feel helpless. There were days on end where I kept questioning whether there was something I could have done, a difference I could have made.The grieving process and constant questioning never fully dissipates. But the only way I got myself up in the mornings was knowing that although I wasn’t able to help him, I am still able to help others. Ever since that realization, I have developed this driving force within me to reach out to the broader spectrum of people with mental illnesses and to help prevent suicide.