Write "LOVE" on your arm...

Many of you have already seen me mention this on Facebook at least 3 times this morning, but it means a lot to me.  Today is To Write Love On Her Arms day.  What does that mean?

• 121 million people worldwide suffer from depression.  (World Health Organization)
• 2/3 of those suffering from depression never seek treatment.
• Untreated depression is the number one cause of suicide, and suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers. (NIMH)
• Depression is NOT discriminate among age, race, gender or class.
• Untreated depression can sometimes lead to self-injury.  Self-injury is also termed self-mutilation, self-harm, or self-abuse.  It can be defined as the deliberate, repetitive, impulsive, non-lethal harming of one's self.
• About 4% of the population has struggled with self-injury.
• The World Health Organizations (WHO) estimates that each year approximately one million people die from suicide, which represents a global mortality rate of 16 people per 100,000 or one death every 40 seconds.
• Mental health disorders are associated with 90% of all cases of suicide.
• Overall, suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death in the US, and the third leading cause of death among young people ages 15-24

Show your support and love to those with mental illness.  If you are reading this, you do, in fact, know and love someone with a mental illness!  (ME!)  Write the word "LOVE" on your arm today (and any other day you choose) to symbolically show your support of those in need.

Prevention is possible!  Help those in need seek treatment, show love and support, erase stigma, DO SOMETHING!