Understanding Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Every September, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month invites us to talk about something many of us were taught to keep quiet: the moments when staying alive feels harder than most people around us will ever know.
If you're reading this because those moments feel familiar, I want to say something plainly: you are not weak, dramatic, or "too much." Pain that intense deserves care, not shame. And if you're reading this because you love someone who might be struggling, thank you for looking for the words.
Why this month matters
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among people in Canada, and it touches every community, every age group, every kind of life. It rarely comes from a single cause — it's more often the accumulation of pain, exhaustion, isolation, and a nervous system that has been in survival mode for far too long.
Awareness months like this one aren't about slogans. They're about making space for a conversation that's often avoided — so that when someone is struggling, the people around them (and the person themselves) know what to do next.
The lie that pain tells
One of the cruellest things about a suicidal crisis is how convincing it can feel. Thoughts like "they'd be better off without me" or "I'm a burden" often arrive dressed up as truth. They aren't. They're a symptom of the pain itself — not an accurate read on how much you matter to the people around you.
Almost everyone who moves through a suicidal crisis later describes being profoundly glad they stayed. The feeling in the moment is real, and it is also survivable. It passes. Connection — not isolation — is usually what carries people through to the other side of it.
If you're struggling right now
- You don't need the perfect words. You only need to let one safe person know you're hurting.
- In Canada, help is available 24/7. Call or text 9-8-8, the Suicide Crisis Helpline — free, confidential, and staffed by people trained to help.
- In an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency room.
- You deserve support, not just in crisis, but in the slower work of understanding why you feel this way and what your nervous system needs to feel safe again.
If someone you love might be struggling
- Ask directly. Asking "are you thinking about suicide?" does not plant the idea — research consistently shows it lowers risk and opens the door to honesty.
- Listen without rushing to fix it. You don't need the right answer. You need to be present.
- Help them build a plan. Knowing who to call and what has helped before — decided in advance, while things are calmer — makes a real difference in a hard moment.
- Stay connected, even after the crisis passes. Suicidal crises are often time-limited, but the underlying pain usually needs ongoing support to heal.
A small practice: your reach-out list
While things are calmer, it can help to put something concrete in place for the harder days:
- Write down two people you could contact — and add 9-8-8 to the list.
- List three things that have helped, even a little, in the past.
- Keep the list somewhere you'll actually find it when you need it most.
You don't have to carry this alone
Whether you're navigating your own hard days or supporting someone who is, reaching out is a sign of strength, not failure. I offer virtual individual counselling across Ontario and work with clients exploring trauma, nervous system regulation, and the patterns that keep them feeling stuck or alone in their pain.
If this is where you're at, I'd be glad to help you find your footing.
If you are in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency room. For crisis support, call or text 9-8-8 anytime, day or night.
Kim Michael is a Registered Psychotherapist and founder of Thrive Through Therapy, offering virtual counselling across Ontario.