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You Are Not Alone 

A Reflection on Suicide Prevention

 

Hey Friends,

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and as we move into the fall and winter seasons—a time when many feel an even heavier weight—I feel called to speak from the heart.

This is not an easy subject. It’s a subject many people try to avoid, sweep under the carpet, or assume will never happen in their family. But silence doesn’t protect us. This blog is meant to open the conversation—for those who may know someone struggling, or for anyone who might be silently hurting themselves.

I have lost friends I cared deeply about to suicide, and I know the pain of wondering if there was something more I could have said or done. I also know, in a very personal way, how dark life can feel—how overwhelming, isolating, and hopeless it can seem. The feeling of being unheard, unloved, tossed aside, and forgotten.

In my mid-20s, I tried to end my own life. I won’t go into details, but I share this because I want you to know that I truly understand that depth of pain. And I also know this: life is worth living. It does get brighter. There is hope, love, and joy waiting on the other side of pain. If we choose to breathe through it, ask for help, and allow ourselves to be supported, light does return.

We are spirits living a human experience, and our greatest gift to one another is the help we offer in our hardest times.

The Silent Struggle

Suicide doesn’t always look the way we think it will. Sometimes it hides behind a smile, a busy calendar, or the words, “I’m fine.” Many people suffer in silence, believing they are a burden or that their pain is too heavy to share.

But here is the truth: your life matters. Your presence matters. And your pain does not make you a burden—it makes you human.

What We Can Do for One Another

• Check in on your people. A simple text, call, or visit can mean more than we know. Sometimes, knowing someone notices can be life-saving.
• Listen without fixing. Those who are hurting don’t always need immediate answers—they need to feel safe, heard, and understood.
• Be direct. If you see warning signs, it’s okay to ask, “Are you thinking about suicide?” You won’t put the idea in someone’s head—you’ll open a door for honesty.
• Share resources. Remind them that help is available and that they don’t have to walk through this alone.

If You Are Struggling

Please hear me: there is no shame in struggling. Needing help does not make you weak. It makes you brave for continuing to show up when life feels overwhelming. Reaching out might feel impossible, but it is one of the strongest and most hopeful steps you can take.

In the U.S., you can dial 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline—24/7, free, and confidential.

If you’re outside the U.S., please look up the crisis hotline in your country.

 

 

A Message of Hope

I know the nights can feel impossibly long. I know the weight can feel unbearable. But I also know this: the world is better with you in it.

There are chapters of your story still waiting to be written—moments of laughter, love, and joy that you cannot yet see.

If you are reading this and hurting, please stay. Breathe. Reach out. Let someone walk with you through this moment.

And if you’re reading this and you’re okay, check in on the people around you. Your care could be the light someone else needs in their darkest moment.

To my friends who are no longer here—I carry you with me. And to those who are still fighting, please know you are not alone. We see you. We need you. We love you.

 

A Gentle Reflection for You

When life feels unbearably heavy, pause and ask yourself:

What is one small thing I can do in this moment to remind myself that I am still here?”

It might be as simple as taking one deep breath, stepping outside to feel the sun or breeze, writing down three things you notice around you, or sending a message to someone you trust.

Sometimes healing doesn’t come in giant leaps—it comes in tiny, steady breaths that carry us through until the light begins to return.

An Affirmation to Hold Onto

“I choose to stay. I choose to breathe. My story is not over yet.”

From my heart to yours: please know that you are needed, you are loved, and you are never truly alone.