I struggled with mental health in my teen years. I grew up in a place where I thought that I could not talk about my struggles without feeling ashamed or being pitied. Growing up, suicide prevention was close to my heart because of my own suicidality. My high school was not a place where mental health was discussed, and suicide prevention efforts did not involve students. With the support of adults who understood the importance of preventing suicide in school, a group of my classmates and I decided to do [...]

Two years ago, I managed volunteer guides at a local museum. A college student named Jack collided with the museum like a meteor on a chilly fall day, took a tour, and decided to become a tour guide himself. All who knew him sensed Jack was living life at high speed.    Jack soon became a favorite at the museum. He was funny and insightful, and we became friends. One day, Jack sheepishly told me of his bipolar disorder. He was on a fast train to death, he said, and taking [...]