In a world where mental health issues are considered as “taboo” and are rarely recognized, where can one run to when everything seems to all be falling apart? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is an approximate of 720,000 people that die due to suicide annually– most cases are from 15-29-year-olds and 73% occur in low and middle-income countries. These are not just numbers but real people; people who took their own lives due to different circumstances and reasons. Bearing in mind, the month of September is known as the “National Suicide Prevention Month” during this month we are to spread awareness about stories that are not seen beyond our naked eye. 

This month emphasizes the importance of becoming fully aware of the different factors that may lead to suicide, educating about several scenarios that one may undergo when dealing with mental health illnesses, raising up the sufferings from dilemmas that one may endure, and most importantly this month highlights the significance of one’s existence. We amplify the stories that are untold, circumstances that lie in the dark, and experiences that are constantly invalidated. We remember those people whom we lost and painstakingly stand for people who may or are still undergoing the experiences that they do not tell anyone to. These stories are stories that speak about real occurrences and aren’t just barely stories hence these are experiences that have to gradually but eventually change. Nonetheless, suicide is a topic that needs to be addressed to eradicate and end the stigma it possesses. 

On a broader perspective, there may be chaos that we own within ourselves but it doesn’t make us less of a person. It is really okay to not be okay and that is fine. People should understand that we all have different levels of sensitivity, what’s fine for you may not be fine with others. That is why being kind is necessary– with the fact that we don’t know what happens behind one’s facade, we must practice the art of becoming compassionate towards ourselves and others. Additionally, when we try to construct sentences, we seldom know how to utilize the semicolon. Some people do not know its significance and how it is used as a punctuation mark; hence semicolons are used to combine two independent clauses. It serves as the symbol to continue a certain thought. It’s a symbol of continuity in sentences but it is more than just about prevailing, especially to other factors such as the subject we call life.

With relation to life, semicolons are not just merely a symbol or a mark. It also signifies one’s survival, it pertains to one’s strength to overcome such hardships. The only thing that we are unable to identify is if one’s experiencing a difficulty in their life; it is unrecognizable and could not be distinguished immediately. As stated by Cleveland Clinic, the indications that suicidal people may persist are experiencing suicidal thoughts, making last wills or letters to bid farewells, performing self-harm, the sudden change of moods or feelings, and depression. All of these are indicators that may result for one to commit suicide although, some wounds are invisible, some hurdles are hidden, and most importantly we cannot easily dissect whether the person we are surrounded with suffers or not. Mental health issues have no face and so are suicidal symptoms. Anyone may experience it regardless of how old or how young they are.

Moreover, sentiments just like the phrase “Drama-drama lang ‘yan hindi ‘yan totoo, gawa-gawa niyo lang ‘yan sa mga sarili niyo” are extremely absurd and borderline insensitive. It is not only “just” a drama or a tale but to a person who faces battles of their own it is everything to them. The least we can do is to simply be there for these people. Be their listener, be the sole reason for them to continue instead of ending it. It is vital to become aware that such things happen, that mental health issues exist and it costs nothing to be compassionate and so we must exercise the value of empathy. We must learn to empathize with someone’s situation that even if it may not happen to us, it doesn’t automatically mean that we will turn a blind eye. Suicide may be the last option to resort to when one experience dilemmas but it takes courage to continue despite the circumstance may be. It is a challenge for us to practice kindness at all times, to become an epitome of solicitude, and to be an instrument that will help a person find the light in the hues of darkness. 

A story could’ve ended but it did not, a sentence may have ceased but still it chose to continue. Just like in life, we encounter different scenarios and obstacles but we try to fight, we find a reason to still continue, and we choose to stay alive. No matter how many times life throws an obstacle, let these stories that we experience mold us to be brave, to always continue, and never give up. All of us should be proud of ourselves that there are stories that we try to hide in the dark but in spite of that we are still here, alive and breathing. We still seek to find the goodness in our life even though it may seem unfair. Whatever state you are currently in there is a guarantee that it will be okay, it will be alright maybe not now, but soon. Let the symbol of semicolon serve as an embodiment of perseverance despite catastrophes. Our reason to stay, fight, and continue. “Mahal at may halaga ka, mahalaga ka palagi.”

References:

Clinic, Cleveland. “Suicide: What It Is, Signs, Risk Factors & Prevention.” Cleveland Clinic, 2021, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/suicide.

“Top 10 Mental Health Symbols, Meanings, & Raising Awareness.” Welevelupfl.com, 28 Nov. 2022, welevelupfl.com/behavioral-health/mental-health-symbol/.

World Health Organization: WHO. (2024c, August 29). Suicide. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide