On Feb. 1, 2015, I lost my friend Skye to suicide. As the anniversary of their death rears closer, I cannot help but remember what that time was like. 

Losing Skye was one of the hardest moments in my life. In all the information that I learned after their passing, I still never really knew why they chose to leave. I never got closure. 

Although it has been almost two years since Skye died, I do not think I will ever fully be able to move forward from losing them. 

In fact, moving forward from the loss of Skye was almost impossible during the months that followed their death. 

Those of us who were aware of their death first were told we should not talk about what happened. We were told it was not appropriate or respectful to talk about how Skye passed away—we should just say a ‘tragedy’ occurred instead. 

According to CNN, the stigma that surrounds mental health and suicide prevents people from talking about it. 

The stigma that surrounded Skye’s death was forced upon us who were in mourning. Because of that stigma, we were silenced. Our pain was meant to be dealt with in counseling and counseling only. 

That silence caused me to have panic attacks, anxiety, and nightmares for months—until I realized silence was causing me more pain than necessary. I reached out and got help. I broke my silence in order to break the chains it had around me. 

More than 1,000 college students kill themselves every year according to a report by Emory University. Skye was among one of those students.

 I do not know that anything could have prevented their death, but I do think more could have been done to show there were resources available to help. Universities have to take an active role in helping prevent suicide—that includes reducing the stigma of talking about it.

As uncomfortable and hard as it is to talk about suicide, keeping silent about it is worse. Silence will only ever magnify the stigma surrounding this epidemic. Silence will only ever create more walls. Kristina Cowan of The Huffington Post states that because stigma “still exists concerning mental illness, many people who need help do not seek it. 

Even though there is clear scientific data that indicates irrefutably that a physical connection exists with most mental disorders, many people still stigmatize others because they stupidly hold on to the misguided beliefs of yesteryear that people with mental disorders are weak or just lack will power.”

I will continue to work to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide because I never want to lose another friend to it. So let us talk about suicide and our experiences with it so that others can know that there is no reason to be ashamed. 

Struggling from a mental illness is common and there is help always available. We can stomp out the stigma together, and save lives in the process.

If you or someone you know needs help, call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.