Have things ever been so overwhelming that you thought about ending your life? Do you love and worry about someone who might be struggling with suicidal thoughts? Or are you a counselor who supports clients facing these painful challenges?

Suicide affects people in many roles—those in crisis, those who love them, and the professionals who serve them. On World Suicide Prevention Day, let’s pause to acknowledge the weight of this struggle and remember that hope and help are always available.

If You Are Struggling with Suicidal Thoughts

• This will not last forever. The pain you feel right now is real, but it won’t always feel this way.
• You haven’t met everyone who will love you yet. There are relationships, opportunities, and moments of joy still ahead.
• Remember your happy times. Even if they feel like they happened to someone else, they happened to you. More good days can still come.
• If you miss someone deeply, try to connect with what you believe they would want for you.

Most importantly, reach out for help. Dial 988 in the U.S. to connect with trained professionals who are available 24/7. Even if you don’t feel like talking, making that call could be the difference between giving up and finding the strength to keep going until hope returns.

If You Love Someone Who May Be Struggling

• Talk about suicide openly. You won’t “put the idea in their head.” Instead, asking directly may give them relief and show them they are not alone.
• Be present. Sometimes just sitting with someone in silence is enough to ease their isolation.
• Offer hope without false promises. Let them know you care, that you want them here, and that the pain may lessen with time and support.
• Never dare or challenge them. Attempts to shock someone out of suicidal thoughts often backfire.
• Know your resources. You can call 988 yourself to learn how best to support a loved one.

If they are willing, accompany them to an emergency room, urgent care center, or mental health provider. If not, calling 911 may be necessary to ensure they get immediate help.

Remember: you are not responsible for another person’s choices. You can offer support, but you cannot force someone to live if they are determined to die. If a loved one dies by suicide despite your efforts, resist the false narrative that it was your fault.

If You Are a Mental Health Professional

Working with suicidal clients is one of the hardest parts of this field. If you lose a client to suicide:

• Remember that not everyone shows signs. Some people hide their intentions deliberately. What a client conceals is not your responsibility to know.
• If you referred them for psychiatric care, you did what you could. No one can control another person’s decisions.
• If you didn’t refer but made the best choice with the information you had, give yourself grace. Hindsight is always clearer.

It’s natural to replay conversations in your head, searching for what you missed. But self-torture born of guilt and regret helps no one. Instead, reflect with compassion and curiosity—asking what you might do differently in the future—while remembering the ultimate choice was not yours to make.

A Final Word of Hope

Suicide is a permanent solution to what is often a temporary problem. Whether you are the one in pain, someone who loves a person at risk, or a professional carrying the weight of loss, please remember: with time, support, and compassion, pain can ease and hope can return.

If you or someone you know is struggling, call 988 in the U.S. for immediate, confidential help.

You are not alone.