Today is World Mental Health Day.

While considered an “invisible disease,” one that can’t be seen physically, mental illnesses are still something that needs to be taken seriously, especially considering the number of people who are impacted either directly or through someone they know and love.

Lately, mental health has been a hot topic. That is a good thing. The more we talk about mental health, the more we are able to break down the stereotypes and stigma surrounding it.

If we all consider the vast number of people who are impacted by mental illness, it can become easier to understand that there is no reason to be scared to talk about it. The best way to end the stigma is through education.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five U.S. adults experience mental illness each year, and one in six U.S. youth age 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year.

The focus of this year’s World Mental Health Day is suicide prevention.

According to the World Health Organization, every 40 seconds, someone loses their life to suicide.

On World Mental Health Day, people are asked to take 40 seconds of action to spread awareness about the scale suicide, methods to prevent suicide and signs someone may be considering suicide.

Clark Countians have the opportunity to become more educated about suicide prevention through a series of workshops being hosted in the community this month.

The QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention classes aim to teach three steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide.

Classes will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 15, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 18 and 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Clark County Health Department; 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 25 at the Clark County Public Library; and 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 30 at Skinnovations, 19 Wainscott Ave.

For more information, contact Carolyn Burtner at edandcarolyn@gmail.com.

We have sat in some of the classes in the past and they are a comfortable environment to be educated about suicide warning signs, how to respond and more.

We encourage the community to be part of the dicussion and learn about how tyou could save a life.

Editorials represent the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. The board is comprised of publisher Michael Caldwell and Bluegrass Newsmedia editors Whitney Leggett and Ben Kleppinger. To inquire about a meeting with the board, contact Caldwell at 759-0095.