Things Could Be Worse

Things could be worse
They tell me again and again
As if I am unaware of the starving children in Africa
Or the people that are forced to relive their sexual assault every time they close their eyes
Things could be worse 
They say as I sit and think of all the ways I could take my life away
Things could be worse
They say as I stare at the mountain of homework that I just don't have the energy to do
Or the house that I am obligated to clean
Yet can't seem to muster the thought of getting out of bed to do so
Yes, things could be worse
No, I am not physically dying
But I wish I were 
Why isn't that enough for them to realize there's a problem?
Or do I have to be yet another fatality in this war against mental illness that nobody seems to win for them to realize that this is a real issue