Written By David Gomez
When I was in my first year of university, I often moved through life without much thought beyond my own immediate concerns. Like many young people, I believed the world was something to be figured out later, when I had more experience. What I didn’t realize at the time was that each person I passed in a classroom or cafeteria was carrying a private universe within them—a constellation of fears, memories, dreams, and wounds. Some shared their struggles openly, while others kept them buried. What is hidden can sometimes grow heavier than anyone around them could imagine.
In my second semester, I met a classmate named Edgar. He was about my age, slender, with a bright smile that contrasted with the deep circles under his eyes. He wanted to become a historian, and we shared at least three courses that term. We had mutual friends, collaborated on projects, and even crossed paths at student gatherings. Like so many fleeting university acquaintances, Edgar was part of my daily academic life.
Then summer break came and went. When classes resumed, I didn’t see him in any of my courses. At first, I assumed his academic path had shifted. But within a week, I heard the devastating news: Edgar had died by suicide.
The shock left me silent. I didn’t want to know the details, though eventually I learned them. What stayed with me was the overwhelming sense of loss, the sudden disappearance of someone who, just months before, had been within arm’s reach. That was when I began to understand that mental health struggles often unfold silently, hidden from even those standing nearest.
Every September 10, World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) reminds us that Edgar’s story is not isolated. Established by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in partnership with the World Health Organization, WSPD is marked in more than 70 countries. Its message is urgent and clear: suicide is preventable, and prevention requires collective action.
In Canada, suicide remains a pressing public health concern. The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP) reports that approximately 4,500 people die by suicide each year in this country—an average of 12 deaths every day.
Behind those numbers are families, communities, and circles of friends whose lives are forever altered. The toll is particularly high among Indigenous peoples, who face disproportionate risks linked to colonial legacies, intergenerational trauma, and barriers to accessing mental health services. This year, CASP highlighted Indigenous knowledge and life promotion as central to shifting narratives and saving lives.
Globally, the picture is equally sobering. The Pan American Health Organization notes that while suicide rates have decreased in several regions, the Americas are an exception, with numbers rising instead.
The reasons are complex: economic hardship, substance use, conflict, migration, and climate-related stress all play a role. The theme of WSPD 2023, “Creating Hope Through Action,” speaks directly to this complexity. It is a call for families, workplaces, schools, governments, and individuals to take small, deliberate steps toward prevention.
In Ontario, local health institutions mark the day with remembrance ceremonies and community events.
Their message underscores something crucial: while not every suicide can be prevented, treatment, support, and compassion save lives. Sometimes prevention begins with something as simple as a conversation, a gesture of empathy, or an act that reassures someone that their pain does not have to be endured alone.
When I think back to Edgar, I wonder whether such gestures might have changed the trajectory of his life. None of us can know. But what we can do is refuse to let silence win. Talking about suicide does not plant the idea in someone’s mind; rather, it opens a door. Asking someone directly if they are struggling, listening without judgement, and encouraging them to seek help are powerful acts.
Professional therapy remains vital. Just as we would never tell someone to “tough out” a broken bone, we must reject the notion that mental health struggles are signs of weakness or something to be hidden. Access to timely psychological care, crisis lines, and community resources must be strengthened. Governments, employers, and health systems bear responsibility here, but as neighbours, friends, and family members, so do we.
The World Health Organization emphasizes that reducing access to the most common means of suicide, reporting responsibly in the media, and teaching coping strategies in schools are evidence-based measures that work.
But prevention is not only a matter of policy—it is personal. It begins when we see each other not as passing strangers but as whole universes, carrying both visible and invisible weight.
Sharing my memory of Edgar is not simple, but I do so because silence has its own dangers. WSPD reminds us that hope can be created in small steps: a listening ear, a compassionate hug, or a reminder that professional help exists.
We all have a role to play. Whether through volunteering, advocating for better services, or simply checking in on a friend who seems withdrawn, our actions matter.
If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out. In Canada, the 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline is available 24/7.
