Those of you who know me pretty well will already be aware of the huge impact that mental health and suicide has had on me for most of my life. Growing up with and around others with depression has often been debilitating and overwhelming. One thing that people might not realize is that depression is similar to many other chronic illnesses in the sense that you will likely spend your entire life with it and all you can do is manage it the best you can and not let it define you. I can proudly say that I am living with and managing my depression very well. Depression is not something to be embarrassed about it and it is not something to be stigmatized. Thankfully I have been lucky enough to have the support of psychologists, family and good friends. Unfortunately not everyone has been so lucky and may not find the assistance they need to discover the tools that may help them better manage their mental health. I hope that with better awareness and a bit of charity we can change this.