I think it’s fair to say the word suicide makes us all wince, squirm, or feel ways we’d rather not. And yet, most of us will know someone—be it a friend, sibling, spouse, coworker, or even the stranger we see every Friday at the local coffee shop—who has been directly impacted by suicide. Still, we squirm at the mention of it. Why?
A few eye-opening statistics:
- On average, one person dies by suicide every 43 seconds globally.
- Suicide is the third leading cause of death among individuals aged 15–29 years worldwide.
The truth is, we are in control of the narrative. Society is. Trends are. So why is suicide awareness still so far behind? How do we catch up? I’d like to think it starts with something as simple as this—a blog, a post, a letter. It starts with normalizing the conversations, the statistics, the awkwardness. The squirm.
It’s practice. It’s repetition.
Research shows that 60–90% of people who die by suicide expressed thoughts of it or sought help beforehand. That’s a powerful statistic. It tells us there’s an opportunity to intervene, to help, to change the outcome. But how? What do we say to someone who tells us they’re struggling?
Here’s what I think:
- Tell them you’re here and not going anywhere.
- Listen to understand. Listen to comfort. Meet them where they are.
- Show up, even when they don’t ask you to.
- Acts of service go a long way. Dirty dishes? Clean them. Laundry everywhere? Fold it. No food in the fridge? Meal prep a couple of days for them.
- Get them outside and moving. Fresh air and exercise can be incredibly healing.
- Plan something they can look forward to. One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was to put something on the calendar that I really wanted to “make it to.” Once I got there, I’d plan the next thing.
A little goes a long way, especially when someone is struggling.
This year, Aerie is honored to support three impactful events dedicated to raising awareness about suicide. We’d love for you to join us!
- Pedal for Prevention Gravel Ride: September 20, Hinesburg VT
- Hope Happens Walk: October 18, South Burlington VT
- Pickle for Prevention: November 22, South Burlington VT
Thanks for following along. Let’s keep the conversation alive. Let’s remind our family and friends that we’re here for them. Let’s show strangers that they’re seen. And let’s not forget to tell our people we love them.
Because the squirm? It doesn’t have to stay. Together, we can get rid of it. We can create a society where talking about suicide is no longer uncomfortable, but necessary—and healing.
Until next time,
Sarah
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