Call to action: What is it like to live with depression?

Depression, suicide and mental health are making headlines following the death of Robin Williams on Monday.

We here at Yahoo Canada know that depression is a serious illness, not just something those afflicted can "snap out of" or "get over." On average, 10 Canadians will die every single day by their own hand, and an alarming number of them are youth.

As someone who's survived multiple attempts to take my own life, I get it. Sometimes the weight of this world is just too much to bear. Sometimes you simply cannot hold on another day, hour or minute. Sometimes, you just want the world to stop. Mental illness is a cruel, relentless beast constantly beating at those who have been strong for longer than they can take.

There have been many people sharing their stories of personal struggle with depression and suicide in the wake of Williams' death, including ex-NHLer and Canadian Theo Fleury.

We want to break down the stigma those dealing with mental health issues face. Part of that is talking about it.

So tell us, what is it like for you living with depression and mental illness? What challenges do you face? What victories have you experienced? Do you get the support you need? How do you support those in your life who are living with this disease? Share your personal stories with us and they could be featured in an upcoming blog post on our site.

If you have been affected by this article please visit www.suicideprevention.ca to be connected with the closest crisis centre. The site is available round the clock, every single day of the year, for anyone who is struggling to cope.