In 1991, I lost a school friend. In 2005, I lost another school friend. And
in 2023, an acquaintance who was a military veteran passed away. All three of
these have one common denominator: They all lost their lives due to suicide.
Each September is recognized as Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise
awareness, spread hope, and spark meaningful action around one of the most
urgent mental health issues of our time.
It's a time to focus on listening, reaching out, and building a culture of
care. Help is available, hope is real, and no one must face challenges alone.
As a community, we must remind one another that no one is alone and help break
down the stigma surrounding seeking help. We need to build the bridge and
connect as a community.
Start a conversation, be the difference. With just one conversation—asking
someone how they're really doing and being truly ready to listen—lives can be
saved. No one has to face this alone. Help exists. Healing is possible. And all
it can take is for one person to start a conversation.
Talking about suicide isn't harmful; silence is. Silence can cost lives,
while conversation can save them. One life lost is one life too many.
If you have seen the movie or the television show M*A*S*H,
you should know the intro theme song is titled "Suicide is Painless."
In the song, it states, "suicide is painless; it brings on many
changes." The first line is false; suicide is painful for friends, family,
and coworkers because their loved one is gone. The second line is true; it
brings on many changes because that person is no longer there and asks
questions of why, and was there something I could have done to save my family
member, friend, or co-worker?
Suicide does not discriminate by age, profession, race, religion, or
political affiliation. It's a time to focus on listening.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit
SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.
