If you're reading this...

It's funny how suicide, anxiety and depression have become a trend for people to explore. I say this because my sister was depressed for a very long time and we never took her seriously, we always had excuses to downplay her recurring outbursts and strange silences.

She would constantly try to express herself and talk about her feelings but it was so alien to us, for her to behave the way she did. I thought she was doing it for attention, my mother said she was trying to behave like a "white" child, my father said no child of his could have any form of mental illness.

My sister struggled, I see it now, just how much she struggled and the guilt tugs at me every day because I could see what she was going through and I could understand even if it was only a little, but I told myself she'd get better "this is only for a little while".

No one prepares you for the moment your sister musters up the courage to utter these words:

We had ignored the situation until she couldn't take it anymore.

I am not ashamed to share my reality

I don’t think I should hide this from society to keep my image as a good sister

I'm telling this because it might inspire someone to ask questions like, "are you okay?", "what can I do to help?", "do you want to talk about it?".

An unstable mental state is not a joke, it's not a trend and it is 100% real. There are people who need our help and there are things we can do to help!

Contributor: Naomi and Jemima