Suicide prevention is something I didn't learn about until high school!

Moving from Ireland to the U.S. at 9 years old, I went through many emotions. But I never understood terms like anxiety, depression and suicide when my new classmates mentioned them. I started to feel those emotions without knowing what they actually were, and hoped that labeling them would help me fit in.

In 4th grade, I thought comments like, "I don't deserve to live," were jokes. After the pandemic, in middle school, more students talked about these issues. As a 12-year-old, I struggled to understand. But I realized I could help by simply listening without judgment so my peers could express what they couldn't elsewhere.

My personal experience with mental health led me to create my own support systems and practical coping skills whenever I felt anxious or overwhelmed. Soon enough, I could slow down my panic attacks and feel calmer, even if it was just for a few seconds.

Knowing how self-regulation techniques helped me, I wanted to share them with others. I began advocating for my peers and even started a club in middle school to provide a safe place for everyone. This advocacy led me to publish a book and create tools to help others acknowledge and understand their emotions.

My advocacy continues at national conferences. I sometimes see parents dismiss these issues as "teenage drama." I suspect that the parents react this way due to the stigma they experienced as youths. Fortunately, more parents and teens are coming together to have meaningful conversations.

I think back to what I learned about empathy in elementary school. It was always about putting yourself in the other person's shoes and feeling what they feel. But I never knew how to do that. That's because, even if I really tried, I could never know what my peers were feeling.

Often, students have a hard time talking about their emotions or thoughts of suicide because no one knows how to react. That is why showing empathy is so important. Parents aren't always sure how to do this. But it can be as simple as letting their teens talk and listening to their perspective without judgment.