GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — May is mental health awareness month which experts say is a time to learn and recognize the signs of mental illness.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the second highest cause of death for people ages 10 to 34 in 2016 was suicide.
"Depression being undiagnosed, being not recognized, being not talked about, in combination with stressors, but it has to be in combination. It’s not just these stressors that are bringing about someone to have suicidal thoughts and completing suicide, it comes along with depression," said Christy Buck, the director of the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan.
She said helping someone who may have a mental health issue is as simple as have a conversation.
“It’s so easy to start a conversation with somebody with the word listen. Then you follow it with, 'what have I noticed recently," said Buck.
She says look for the signs and symptoms in family and friends.