Let’s imagine … you and your four best friends are at a concert. You’re all listening to the same song but dancing your own dance. That’s kind of how life is, you know. We are all living on this planet together but we’re all experiencing it completely different. Now, look at your friends again. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one of the 5 of you is living with mental illness . Mental illnesses include depression, anxiety disorders , schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors. When left untreated, the risk for suicide increases dramatically. Every single day, as many as 123 people die by suicide in the United States. More alarming is that in Wisconsin, the suicide rate has risen by 25% in the last 15 years . So, get to know the warning signs of suicide: Listen for talk of feeling hopeless, trapped or of being a burden. Watch for behavior changes like withdrawal from friends or changes in mood and sleep
