Surjit Singh Flora
(Asian independent) September has posters, hashtags, ribbons, and reminders to check on loved ones. That’s important. But Suicide Prevention Month should ask us to do more than just being aware of public awareness. Words like “I’m tired,” “I’m done” or “I wish I could disappear” can be agonizing. They can’t be dismissed as drama, weakness or a passing mood.
Listening is a practical first step. And there’s support when somebody needs it.
Canada loses about 4,750 people to suicide every year, 13 people every day. About 20,000 people have self-harm admissions and another 100,000 have a suicide attempt.
Nearly three-quarters of suicide deaths are among men, but suicide can affect people of all ages, of all backgrounds, of all income levels, and of all kinds. These numbers aren’t a reason to panic. They’re a reason to take pain seriously. People don’t enter a crisis in isolation. And loneliness, poverty, discrimination, housing stress, trauma, grief, illness and long wait times for mental health treatment can all mount at the same time.
A bright slogan will not cure those problems. Neither can empty reassurance. “Be grateful.” “Stop overthinking.” “Pray harder.” “Others have it worse.” These phrases may be said kindly but they can sound as bad as judgment.
They tell a struggling person that their pain is inconvenient, or uncomfortable. Listening is not to agree with hopeless thoughts. It does not have to be a perfect answer. It means being present and taking someone seriously and not running to a quick fix. Simple words can open doors:
“I’m glad you told me.”
“That sounds really painful.”
“Are you thinking about suicide?”
When you ask someone about suicide you don’t put the idea in their mind. It can enable honesty when a person has been suffering fear alone. Don’t promise secrecy, and connect them with immediate help. A direct question isn’t a charge. It tells an individual that the truth is safe to say out loud.
Never talk of disappearing, being a burden or not wanting to live should be taken as attention seeking. It may be a bit of a warning, you know? If you can, stay with them, call someone they trust, and bring in a family member, friend, health professional or crisis service. No friend, parent, co-worker or teacher should have to be the sole one to carry this burden on their shoulders.
In Canada, anyone who is thinking about suicide, or concerned about somebody else, can call or text 9-8-8 at any time. And the service is free and 24/7 in English and French, with bilingual and trauma-informed support and culturally sensitive support. When emergency services are called, call 9-1-1 or local emergency services.
A conversation that’s safe doesn’t need a script. It needs care and calm to be done and follow through:
• Find a private place.
• Allow someone to finish their thoughts.
• Listen more than you say, even if silence is uncomfortable.
• Find out what support would help right now.
Follow up later. If there are immediate safety concerns, don’t leave the person alone. Dangerous secrets shouldn’t stay hidden. The appointment of trusted support is care, not betrayal.
Suicide Prevention Month can’t put all the full weight on one conversation. Parents, teachers, employers, health workers, community leaders and government will all play a role in whether people feel safe enough to tell the truth. That means regular check-ins, trained adults, clear workplace policies, culturally safe care, quicker access to counseling and follow-up after a crisis.
Personal strength is important, but it can’t replace care, stable housing, financial security or treatment if care is not available. The federal government has announced $120.2 million for 9-8-8 in January 2026. Crisis services are not optional appendages. They are part of a serious public response.
September should be more than a season of reminders not to die. Prevention means asking why people are feeling alone, unsafe, trapped or have no way to be. No one requires perfect words. And listen without judgment, take warning signs seriously and connect people to 9-8-8 or another trusted source of support. Honest conversation and practical care are at the core of every Canadian community, every month of the year.
