Content Warning: This article discusses topics like suicide and mental health. If you or someone you know is struggling you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24/7. Please take care of yourself while you read.
Suicide is a big word. It’s one of the last big taboos. It’s something people still whisper about, if they even talk about it at all. It makes most people uncomfortable. We worry so much about saying the wrong thing so often that we just say nothing instead. But like in any big issue, the discomfort and silence are the problem. In order to prevent suicide moving forward, we have to sit with the discomfort. We have to say the word.
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The truth is, suicide doesn’t always look how you’d expect. It’s not always visible. Sometimes the person who jokes the most, texts back, and checks in is the one who’s hurting the most. Everything looks okay until it’s not. And there’s no worse feeling in the world than realizing that you missed something. That you couldn’t tell. That you were wrong.
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Mental illness is quiet. Suicidal thoughts are often hidden, and the weight of silence around the topic and the pain is crushing for everyone involved. September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and that matters. This month spreads action and awareness. It helps break the silence and urges people to check in on their loved ones. Even if they seem fine. It’s a time to check in on people and follow up when you say you will.
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This month is a time to honor the lives lost and hold space for people who are still fighting the war. It’s also a time to talk about healing and the things that help us keep going when we’re drowning. Suicide prevention starts before an emergency, it starts with talking about it.
Slowing down and taking time for yourself can feel like swimming in quicksand, but there are still things left that can make it easier. Even if it’s watching a comfort film that makes the cold days feel a little warmer. Here are some gentle reminders.
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Walk Outside (Literally)
A simple walk can bring on a surprising amount of hope. Whether it’s five minutes on a porch or a walk through a park, the sky has a weird way of reminding you that you’re still here. That you’re still tethered to something.
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Write Something for Yourself
It doesn’t have to be profound, but scribble a note to your future self. Name five things you love. Writing is a gentle and intimate way to reconnect with your thoughts.
Remember to Check In: September is Suicide Awaraness Month
Photo by Aaron Burden
Log Off
Give yourself permission to unplug from the world for a second. It’s okay to mute notifications and come back to your own rhythm. You can’t help change and process things when you’re overwhelmed with fog.
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Make Something Simple and Good for the Soul
Comfort food isn’t just about taste; it’s about ritual. A hot drink, a bowl of popcorn, anything. Nourishment doesn’t have to be complicated and calculated.
Photo by Tanja Tepavac
Check In
Connection doesn’t have to be deep or heavy. A simple “thinking of you” or “are you okay?” can open a door. Sometimes all you really need is for someone to ask if you’re okay. And that can make all the difference. If you don’t have anyone to call, the 988 Lifeline is open 24/7.
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Comfort Movies Make the World Go Round
When life becomes overwhelming, stories provide a safety net. You need to not only know, but also see that other human beings have been in a tough spot too. Here are a few films that only demand your presence.
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‘Ordinary People’
A family drama that reminds you, grief is grief. No matter where you came from or what you have, losing people you love is like losing a limb. The film touches on the importance of vulnerability in your healing process.
Robert Redford’s Ordinary People (1980) swept the Oscars for good reason. He captured with rare precision the fragile, unspoken emotions of a family coming undone. This scene distills the quiet resentment and heartbreak at the film’s core. It's really a perfect film. pic.twitter.com/h2abz9kjef
The story follows a troubled but brilliant young man who receives help from a therapist to confront his childhood. The film shows the effect of attachment, trauma, and the power of healing relationships internally. It also makes you laugh a lot.
Not only is this movie stunning, but the main character also finds beauty in everything he sees. The story follows a man who feels content with his life in Tokyo as a toilet cleaner. He cherishes the smallest of things, down to his cassette tapes, dusting every book on his shelf, and waking up without an alarm every day, happy.
The comedy story follows a 16-year-old who checks himself into a psychiatric hospital for his depression. This film highlights mental health stigmas and the importance of asking for help. The soundtrack also rips.
Be sure to bring a box of tissues for this one. While the characters face hard times after experiencing infidelity from both of their partners, the film holds space for the emotions we experience that have nowhere to go. The in-between feelings that we never get to grieve properly. It highlights the idea that you’re not stupid for remembering, and you’re not foolish for caring.
Remember to Breathe. Not every day is special, and not every moment feels manageable, but none of us are required to carry everything at once. You don’t have to earn rest, or comfort, or support. This month, don’t forget to check in on the people you love. Check in with yourself, too. See your joys in the smallest forms. The bravest thing anyone can do is remember that beauty, humor, and softness belong in the same frame as sorrow. They always have.
