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According to many reports, suicide is rising among our younger generation. Behind every statistic is a young person who felt overwhelmed by the harsh realities of the world, someone who felt lost, hopeless, or unsure where to turn. The weight of that pain is unimaginable. To feel so devastated that ending your life seems like the only option is a burden no one should ever have to carry.

Life is sacred. Your life is sacred. And the thought of any young person not recognizing their own worth is heartbreaking.

I want every young person to know this truth: you do not have to face your feelings alone. There is hope. There are people who care. There are options, support systems, and paths forward that don’t involve harming yourself. Reaching out to someone you trust — a family member, a friend, a counselor, or a mental health professional — can be a powerful first step toward feeling supported and understood.

But we must also acknowledge something deeper: society itself is part of the problem.

Young people today are born into a world that constantly tells them who to be. Social media, celebrity culture, and the pressure to fit into trends create a false belief that identity must be borrowed rather than discovered. Many feel they must follow rather than lead, imitate rather than explore, and shrink themselves to fit into a mold that was never meant for them.

In this environment, it becomes difficult for young people to recognize their own unique potential. Schools often highlight the gifted and talented, but every person has gifts — and not all of them fit neatly into academic categories. Those who learn, think, or express themselves differently are too often labeled, misunderstood, or pushed aside. This has been happening for generations.

I know this because I lived it. I was one of those young people who didn’t fit in. I knew I was different, but I couldn’t find a place for my difference in a world that rewarded conformity. When you feel like an outcast long enough, you start to believe you don’t belong anywhere. And when you feel like you don’t belong, hopelessness can creep in.

But the truth is: difference is not a flaw — it is a form of brilliance.

On top of these emotional pressures, young people today face economic realities that are heavier than ever. Prices are high, wages are often low, and the pressure to “make it” by a certain age is unrealistic and unfair. Many feel they must achieve independence by 30, own a home, or live the so‑called American dream — even when the world around them makes that nearly impossible.

This is why families matter now more than ever.

In times like these, families can be a lifeline. Pooling resources, living together, supporting one another — these are not signs of failure. They are signs of strength, unity, and wisdom. Young people should know they don’t have to rush, they don’t have to meet society’s timelines, and they don’t have to pretend they’re okay when they’re struggling.

Everyone grows at their own pace. Everyone has their own path. Everyone deserves the space to develop without pressure or comparison.

Society must change. Its values must shift. Because if we continue down this path, we risk losing more of our young people — not because they are weak, but because the world has become too heavy for them to carry alone.

We are living in a time when new technologies are reshaping the world, and eventually, some burdens may ease. But until then, we must hold onto one another. Families must pull together. Communities must show up. And young people must know that home — in whatever form it takes — can be a place of refuge, not judgment.

Inform your young adult that they can stay if needed. Assure them of your support and let them know they are not alone as they navigate a world that can often feel overwhelming.

Because when a young person knows they are loved, valued, and not alone, they can survive the hardest seasons. And with support, they can grow into the fullness of who they were always meant to be.