10/09/2026
Today is World Su***de Prevention Day.
One of the difficult things about su***de is that we cannot always tell who is struggling.
A person may still go to work, laugh with friends, take care of their children, post on social media and appear to be getting on with life, while privately feeling overwhelmed, hopeless or exhausted by the effort of simply getting through each day.
This is why we need to take people's emotional pain seriously, even when their lives look "fine" from the outside.
If someone tells you that they are struggling, listen. You do not have to have the perfect words or know how to solve their problems. Sometimes what matters most is being present, taking them seriously and helping them connect with appropriate support.
And if you are the one struggling, please tell someone. A trusted friend, family member, counsellor, psychologist, doctor or another person you feel safe talking to. You do not have to wait until things become unbearable before asking for help.
Perhaps today is also a good day to check on someone you haven't heard from in a while.
A simple, "How are you really doing?" can open a conversation that someone desperately needs.
Dr. Chirwa