Yesterday, I encountered an amazing opportunity.

HuffPost Live did a segment on the untimely passing of popular blogger Karyn Washington. Sadly, she died from suicide recently and it opened up a larger issue about mental health, suicide, and depression in the Black community.

I had a lot of experience with this topic. First, I have 27 years of experience being Black. That alone could generate quite a few blog posts! And, I have experience with suicide and depression. I have dealt with issues of depression and seasonal affective disorder since I was a child. I have tried to commit suicide 4 times in my life, yet I am still here and glad to be alive.

It was hard to share those facts with thousands of strangers. But, I knew I needed to be transparent and speak up so I could save someone. I had a feeling that somewhere out there, there was a person listening who needed to hear what I had to say. Even if it wasn’t as eloquent as I would have liked it to be, I know I spoke directly from my heart because that is what Karyn Washington would have wanted me to do.

We all have a past. We all have a story. Some chapters of our lives are darker than others, but we can bring light to the darkness by being transparent. It is time to step out, speak up, and save someone!

To view the segment, click here

-With Love,

Tai Gooden