BREAKING: The world is a better place with you in it

It seems we can’t go a single day without some unprecedented event rattling our world which floods our news and our social media with doom and gloom. It’s easy to see all this and question our own value. However, according to reports, the world is a much better place with you in it, regardless of how impossible it feels to keep going.

Jump to mental health resources

Globally, an estimated 703,000 people die from suicide every year. That’s more than 1 death every minute.

“It’s tragic to think how many people would still be here today if there wasn’t a stigma attached to mental health or if they took the time to reach out, knowing someone—anyone—cared about them,” said Dr. Tim Burrows, a mental health provider. “We need to treat mental health the same as a yearly physical or annual vaccination because mental health is just health.”

Mental illness is a growing epidemic in our country with more than 20% of adults experiencing some form of mental illness and 1-in-6 kids aged 6-17 experiencing some form of mental disorder every year. Despite these alarming numbers, talking about mental health is still a difficult subject to tackle for many people.

“I was afraid that if I talked about how I was feeling, about how stressed I felt at work or how anxious I felt at home, it would have a negative impact on my work performance and relationships with those around me,” said Randy Harper, 38, who suffered from suicidal thoughts until he sought help from a therapist. “But after learning to take care of my mind the same as I would my heart or lungs, I learned a lot about myself and the value I have to those around me.”

But this epidemic doesn’t stop with people who follow through with suicide. According to the CDC, more than 13 million Americans have seriously considered suicide, 3.8 million have made a plan to kill themselves, and 1.6 million people attempted suicide.

Millions of people are affected by mental illness every year, many of whom are just like you; they work, play, create, love, laugh, and cry every single day. If you’re ever feeling alone in this world with your dark thoughts, know that 57.8 million adults experienced mental health issues in 2021. Nearly 8 million youths also experienced a mental health disorder.

The causes of mental illness and suicide are plentiful and never the same for anyone. For some, it could be stress and anxiety. For others, it might be feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, isolation, or loneliness. It has also been linked to substance abuse, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a family history, or chronic medical conditions.

“There’s no cookie-cutter example for who suffers from mental illness,” said Burrows. “It could be the quiet kid who keeps to himself or the jovial coworker who’s the life of the party. The fact is you never know what someone is going through. But spreading kindness and treating everyone with respect can go a long way in helping others feel connected to their own self-worth.”

If you’re thinking of killing yourself, please reach out to any of these resources below, because the world truly is a better place with you in it.

Resources

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing a medical emergency, dial 9-1-1

988 Lifeline—Dial 988

The 988 Lifeline is for everyone. Through the 988 Lifeline, you have access to free, quality, one-on-one assistance. Our skilled, judgment-free counselors are here to provide compassionate support. You deserve to feel heard and cared about anytime, anywhere, 24/7/365.

Crisis Text Hotline—Text HOME to 741741

Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States – 24/7, free, confidential. Crisis Text Line (CTL) is here for you. A live, trained volunteer Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from our secure online platform. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool calm.

American Psychiatric Association

A psychiatrist specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness and substance abuse disorders. Psychiatrists are uniquely qualified to understand the complex interrelation between mental and physical health since their training includes four years of medical school and at least three additional years in a psychiatric residency.

Findtreatment.gov

FindTreatment.gov is confidential and anonymous resource for persons seeking treatment for mental and substance use disorders in the United States and its territories.

(For Military Veterans) Department of Veterans Affairs

As a Veteran, you might experience difficult life events or challenges after leaving the military. We’re here to help no matter how big or small the problem may be. VA has resources to address the unique stressors and experiences that Veterans may face — and we’re just a click, call, text, or chat away.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation.

Teens Health (Nemours Children’s Health)

Nemours Children’s Health is committed to transforming the health of children by going beyond medicine to improve the health of the world in which every child lives. We founded KidsHealth.org and TeensHealth.org in 1995.

Anxiety & Depression Association of America

ADAA’s promise is to raise awareness about the impact of mental health on physical health, to find new treatments, and one day prevent and cure anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and co-occurring disorders. 

Maternal & Child Health

We work together to improve public health and health care systems for our Nation’s mothers, children, and families. We recognize that states, communities, and families are experts in their own needs. We listen to the lived experience of people and families who are our partners.

Families for Depression Awareness

Families for Depression Awareness helps families recognize and cope with depression and bipolar disorder to get people well and prevent suicides.

National Alliance for on Mental Illness

NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

HeadsUpGuys

HeadsUpGuys is an anonymous resource specifically designed for men and their families to prevent the continued erosion of men’s mental health and deaths by suicide.

If you know of additional resources that should be included in this list, please comment below to help spread awareness.