More than 34,000 people in the U.S. commit suicide due to depression each year—three every hour, or one attempt made every minute. Most people do not know how they can save the life of someone who is depressed and contemplating suicide, but a student from Skyline was capable and succeeded in doing just that.

A photo of a girl surfaced on Instagram, and in the caption she said she was going to commit suicide in a matter of days. A student from Skyline found it and quickly took it to his counselors, hoping to match the picture with a student. The only information he had was a first name, a description of the girl’s appearance and the sport she played.

No match was found.

It was sent out to other high schools in the district—still no match. But the danger behind the picture was too great to be ignored. It was taken to a higher power that had people with the technology to trace its source.

There was a match.

   They were able to trace the girl in the picture to the school she was enrolled at, all the way in Pennsylvania. The Skyline student sent an email, with the picture and the explanation of the  situation, to the principal of the school. There was no response.

The student called the school the next day, explaining the urgent concern about the suicidal girl to the principal. The match was confirmed with some surprise, for the girl was not on the school’s radar as depressed or suicidal.

The same day, the principal called the girl, her parents and her counselors for a meeting to provide the help and resources she needed to heal.

The Skyline student did not have to go to that much trouble to help some random girl he did not know, but this story shows how much the student and everyone involved cared—they took suicide seriously.

If are wary that someone you know is depressed or suicidal, don’t stay silent. Call, email or talk to a parent, trusted adult or maybe your school counselors at your school; anything is better than letting that person die.

It doesn’t matter who they are or where they are from, all that matters is that they are helped. Even from 2,808 miles away, the Skyline student was able to save a life.