Day 13

There are a lot of things people say about suicide because they don’t know what else to believe.

And some of those things sound harmless.

But they can be dangerous.

“They wouldn’t do it. They have too much to live for.”

Pain doesn’t always make sense from the outside. Someone can have a loving family, a home, children, faith, friends and a life that looks full—and still be struggling in ways nobody sees.

“If they were really suicidal, they’d tell someone.”

Not necessarily.

People can hide tremendous amounts of pain because they’re afraid of being judged, becoming a burden or changing how others see them.

“Talking about suicide will put the idea in their head.”

We shouldn’t let fear of the word suicide keep us from having an important conversation. If you’re concerned about someone, asking directly and calmly can open the door to help.

“Suicide is selfish.”

I understand the anger that can come with suicide loss. I understand the questions. The hurt. The How could you leave the people who loved you?

Those feelings are real.

But reducing someone to the word selfish doesn’t help us understand what was happening inside them.

“If someone survives an attempt, they’re fine now.”

Surviving the moment doesn’t mean the pain that led them there has disappeared.

And perhaps the myth I wish we would stop believing most of all is this:

“It could never happen in my family.”

I wish that were something any of us could guarantee.

But none of us can.

That’s why I talk about this.

Not because I have all the answers. Not because I think we can prevent every tragedy if we just know enough.

I talk about it because I’ve learned firsthand that suicide doesn’t leave simple grief behind.

It leaves questions.

It leaves memories.

It leaves people wondering what they missed and what they could have done differently.

So let’s replace assumptions with conversations.

Replace judgment with compassion.

Replace silence with willingness to ask the uncomfortable question.

Because behind every suicide is a human being whose story was much bigger than the way it ended.

And behind every survivor is someone who has to learn how to live with that ending.

Let’s do better at talking about both.

#SuicidePreventionMonth #SuicideAwareness #BreakTheStigma #TalkAboutIt #ListenWithCompassion