I feel kind of hollow after hearing the news that that the medical examiner is ruling Chris Cornell’s death as a suicide by hanging. He performed just hours before in Detroit. How did it go unnoticed that he was upset and hurting? Are we all so busy and caught up in our own world’s that we don’t notice the pain of others?

In a group chat the other day a mom was saying she finally opened herself up and shared her struggles with some women she thought were close friends. They didn’t acknowledge her pain and basically ignored her- this obviously hurt and made her question if she should be that vulnerable again.

I know in my deep dark days I reached out to my mom and begged her to come help me. She wasn’t feeling well, so she didn’t want to drive the 45 minutes that it takes to get to my house. I was in a bad place and my husband was working a night shift- I didn’t need to be alone. Situations like that have made me think- the people who have left us, did they reach out and it went unnoticed? Are we not listening to people’s cries? Are we not taking mental illness serious enough because the person is able to function most of the time?

We have got to do better.

Instead of sinking further that night I found BetterHelp.com and I got a counselor. But some people aren’t able to do this. They don’t feel like they have something to live for. These people are some of our best friends, relatives, beloved teachers, celebrities- who are very loved. They just have an illness that keeps them from seeing and feeling it.

If your loved one or friend is suffering from depression, take a minute to learn how you can help. What signs you should look for. Talk to them about it. Check in on them. Let them know they are not alone.

If you are suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts please remember YOU ARE NOT ALONE! You may feel it, but please reach out and talk to someone: