One of the hardest things about suicide is that there isn’t always one obvious sign.

Sometimes there are changes we notice but don’t understand until later. Someone starts pulling away. They stop doing things they used to enjoy. They seem hopeless or exhausted. They talk about feeling like a burden. Maybe they’re suddenly giving things away or saying things that sound like they’re saying goodbye.

And sometimes there aren’t obvious signs at all.

That’s important to understand because I don’t want anyone walking away from this thinking, “If I just pay close enough attention, I’ll always know.” We can’t always know.

But we can learn.

We can pay attention when someone we love starts acting differently. We can stop brushing off comments because we think they’re being dramatic. We can ask instead of assuming. We can listen instead of immediately trying to fix everything.

And especially with kids and teenagers, we have to remember that what seems small to an adult can feel enormous to them. Their world can feel very different from ours.

We don’t have to understand exactly why someone is hurting in order to take their pain seriously.

Learn the warning signs.

Learn how to ask.

And if something in you says, “I need to check on them,” check on them.

You might be wrong.

But I’d rather be wrong because I cared enough to ask than right and wish I had.

If someone is in immediate danger or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If there is immediate danger, call 911.

#SuicidePreventionMonth #SuicideAwareness #KnowTheSigns #CheckOnYourPeople #TalkAboutIt