Losing my friend to suicide

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teens aged 15 to 19 in the United States. For Amalia Lopez, this became more than a statistic when her close friend in high school took his own life. Since then, the issue has taken on broader importance for her. "Maybe I, and my peers, could better understand [his death] if mental illness was openly talked about in school... This is the only way to reduce the fear and stigma that keeps young people silent about their struggles." Read her story on South Kern Sol.