So many people, including myself, were shocked to hear the sad news of Chester Bennington (lead singer of the band Linkin Park) recently taking his own life. It hit me pretty hard knowing that a singer I looked up to and listened to in my middle and high school days was so deeply depressed that he felt there was no other way out. I actually had tickets to go see Linkin Park live next week and now, I will never get the chance to see the entire band perform in person. I was heart broken when I heard the news.

...but what breaks my heart, even more, is the fact that people commit suicide every day. In fact, nearly 30,000 Americans commit suicide every year. Every day another person takes their own life, but it seems like the majority of the world only cares about mental health and suicide if it involves a celebrity. Why don't we care all the time about the mental health of both ourselves and those around us? We should not wait for something tragic to happen before we begin to talk about it. At that point, it's too late.

There are so many people out there who have never taken the time to learn the warning signs of someone contemplating suicide. Some people do know the warning signs but don't take them seriously...the problem is that suicide is serious. Suicide is permanent. We should all be aware of the warning signs and we should not be taking this issue lightly. Below is a list of common warning signs given by the suicide prevention lifeline website to help determine if you or someone you know is at risk for suicide:

1. Talking about wanting to die or wanting to kill themselves.

This one sounds obvious, right? Wrong. So many people overlook this warning sign because they just assume that the person is kidding. Never assume someone is kidding when they are talking about ending their life.

2. Sudden increased use of drugs and/or alcohol

The person may be looking for a way out so they may turn to some sort of substance abuse in an attempt to feel better.

3. Withdrawal

Choosing to be alone and avoiding friends and social situations. Now, we all need our alone time. Just because someone chooses to stay home from a party one night doesn't mean they are contemplating suicide. But if the person goes from being social to suddenly acting differently and avoiding all social situations completely, that can be a sign of depression, which can lead to suicide.

4. Sudden calmness and/or happiness following depression

This may be the most missed sign of suicide because people assume this means that the person is getting better...which could be the case. But too many times, this means that the person has officially chosen to end their own life and has everything planned out. They feel relief because they have it all figured out.

5. Sleeping too much or too little

6. Giving away prized possessions

People tend to go through their belongings and think about what they want to happen to them once they are gone.

7. Obtaining things that could possibly be destructive

This could be things such as firearms, narcotics, etc.

8. Exposure to another persons suicide, or graphic sensationalized accounts of suicide.

It has been proven that this could potentially trigger someone to actually attempt suicide.

9. Anxiety

10. Rage, uncontrolled anger, or talking about seeking revenge

11. Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities

12. Sudden and dramatic changes in mood

13. Talking about feeling hopeless, unimportant, or being a burden to others

Obviously, someone experiencing or doing one or two of these things (such as sleeping a lot or having some anxiety) may not be contemplating suicide, but it is important to pay attention to all of these signs. If you think there is even the slightest possibility that someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, it is important to get help immediately! Too many people either ignore the warning signs or are afraid they will be embarrassed if they say something and they end up being wrong. Even if you're wrong about it, it is better to be wrong than to wish you had said something later on.

NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE:

Call 1-800-273-8255

If you are thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7. It is free and confidential.