I was an accomplice to my brother's suicide

Erin Schwantner, Special to CNN

Updated 1428 GMT (2228 HKT) May 3, 2014

Evan Schwantner in October 2006, during his senior year of high school. "This is the Evan I choose to remember ... the happy Evan, the Evan before mental illness took over his beautiful mind and carefree spirit," author Erin Schwantner says of her brother.
Photos: 'We inherited his suffering'
'We inherited his suffering' – Evan Schwantner in October 2006, during his senior year of high school. "This is the Evan I choose to remember ... the happy Evan, the Evan before mental illness took over his beautiful mind and carefree spirit," author Erin Schwantner says of her brother.
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A cherished memory: Schwantner and her brother on a helicopter ride over Maui on a 2005 family vacation.
Photos: 'We inherited his suffering'
'We inherited his suffering' – A cherished memory: Schwantner and her brother on a helicopter ride over Maui on a 2005 family vacation.
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Evan was the anchor leg on the mile relay team at his high school. This photo was taken in 2006.
Photos: 'We inherited his suffering'
'We inherited his suffering' – Evan was the anchor leg on the mile relay team at his high school. This photo was taken in 2006.
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Evan and his sister at his high school graduation, 2007.
Photos: 'We inherited his suffering'
'We inherited his suffering' – Evan and his sister at his high school graduation, 2007.
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Evan uploaded this image to his Facebook account late one night in December 2008.
Photos: 'We inherited his suffering'
'We inherited his suffering' – Evan uploaded this image to his Facebook account late one night in December 2008.
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