There are so many people who need help. As of 2020, 110,000 teenagers 15-17 took their own lives away. And what blows my mind, is some people still joke about killing themselves, and some people still think depression is "not a big deal." This has to stop. 

     Depression rates have skyrocketed this past year, especially because of covid-19. In fact, there has been 161,000 youth members with at least 1 major depressive episode just in New York in 2020. For texas, the number was 296,000.

     You see, the problem with a lot of people is that when they don't understand something, they try to block it out from their own head. This is not what should be happening. We should try to understand our people, not create our own false images. But this is exactly what some people are doing. They don't understand what others are going through, so they make up what they think others should be going through.

     I have personal experience with mental health. I'm Christopher, I'm 14, and I was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 11, one of the youngest in the world to be diagnosed, yet has had symptoms since as early as 6. I have been known to have violent outbursts of auditory, visual, and tactile hallucinations. And with that, I've also had depression since 11. I even almost ended my own life once. And my parents and friends were so helpful, I can't thank them enough for the help they gave me.

     So, with that being said, there are a lot of good people in this world, but also a lot of misunderstanding people. I want to help change that by making this petition, and hopefully by you signing it. It would mean so much to me. Thank you ❤️.