A school counselor and sibling of someone lost to suicide outlines simple, concrete steps families and communities can take now—listening, staying with people in crisis, accepting their pain as real, and encouraging open conversation.
Listen without judgment and keep listening when someone shares worries or fears.
Take disclosures seriously: believe that struggles others view as minor can be overwhelming for the person experiencing them.
# September Is Suicide Prevention Month: A Personal Case for Listening, Believing, and Acting
September marks Suicide Prevention Month. The author, who has worked as a school counselor and lost a brother to suicide, argues that prevention is not primarily about statistics or technical checklists. It is about human response—how we listen, how we respond when someone says they feel worthless, and how we keep the conversation alive beyond awareness campaigns.
Losing someone to suicide is described as unbearable, devastating, and confusing. The author frames this loss as living proof that mental illness can overpower even people who seem strong. That experience shapes the practical advice offered: small, immediate actions people can take when someone is struggling.
Listen. When someone shares worries or fears, do not judge or minimize. Phrases like "get over it" or "stop worrying" make people question themselves and can increase isolation. Listening means giving time, attention, and space for someone to say what they're feeling.
Believe. People experience struggles in ways that are relative. What seems minor to one person can be overwhelming to another. If someone says they feel like the world would be better without them, accept that feeling as valid and respond accordingly.
Schools may show videos explaining who to call and what to do. The author suggests going further: invite survivors to speak, provide concrete resources, and create repeated opportunities for students and families to hear real stories and actionable guidance. Survivor voices and lived experience can make prevention messages more tangible.
The story emphasizes that improved, low-cost mental health care is necessary. Talking and listening are essential first steps, but access to professional help must be realistic for many families. The author urges communities to support improved availability so people can get help before crises escalate.
Prevention is framed as a shared responsibility. It requires simple human actions—listening without judgment, believing someone's pain, staying with them in crisis, and helping them connect to care. These are small, concrete behaviors that anyone can practice and that can change outcomes when a person is struggling.
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