The Silence Between the Cracks: What Are We Still Missing About Suicide?

Julie Barris | Crisis Counselor | Therapist-in-Training
4 minutes ago
3 min read

Suicide awareness is not just about recognizing the signs—it's about creating a culture where people feel safe enough to be seen, heard, and helped. Increasing suicide awareness means challenging silence, breaking stigma, and reminding others that their lives have value even when they can’t see it themselves.

The Silence Between the Cracks: What Are We Still Missing About Suicide?

It’s easy to spot a broken arm. A fever. A bleeding wound. But emotional pain doesn’t show up on an X-ray.

Every year, millions struggle silently with suicidal thoughts—many of them never saying a word, even to those closest to them. While awareness campaigns, crisis hotlines, and school programs have increased over the years, the numbers remain sobering: over 700,000 people die by suicide globally each year, according to the World Health Organization. And for every death, there are countless others who attempt or contemplate it.

So what are we still missing?

Click to Learn About Breaking Through the Cloud: How to Find Your Way When Suicidal Thoughts Take Over

The Myths That Keep Us Quiet

One of the most dangerous beliefs is that talking about suicide puts the idea into someone's head. The truth? Talking about it—openly, calmly, and without judgment—can save a life. Research shows that when we ask people directly if they’re thinking about suicide, we open the door for connection, not destruction.

Another myth? That only people with diagnosed mental illness are at risk. In reality, suicide can affect anyone—those with chronic depression, yes, but also people facing acute grief, shame, relationship breakdowns, or financial ruin. Sometimes, it’s not a long battle with depression that leads to suicide—it’s a single overwhelming moment when hope disappears.

The Illusion of “Fine”

People who are suicidal often learn to wear the mask well. They go to work. They take care of their families. They say they’re “fine.”

But suicide is not about wanting to die—it’s often about not wanting to live with the pain. Many just want the suffering to end, not life itself. If we can be brave enough to ask the deeper questions—"How are you, really?"—we may begin to catch more of the signs before it’s too late.

How We Show Up Matters

You don’t have to be a therapist to make a difference. Sometimes, being a consistent, nonjudgmental presence is the most powerful thing you can offer. Show up. Check in. Listen. And take people seriously—even if their pain doesn’t look like your version of it.

Don’t say, “You have so much to live for.” Say, “You don’t have to go through this alone.”

Don’t try to fix it. Try to understand it.

And if you're the one struggling: You are not weak. You are not a burden. You are not alone.

Click to Learn About The Silent Distance: How to Support Your Surviving Parent Through Grief When They Push You Away

Hope Isn’t Just a Word—It’s a Lifeline

Suicide prevention isn’t just about crisis moments. It’s about building a culture where people feel safe being vulnerable. Where emotional pain is treated with the same urgency as physical pain. Where we check in with people before they reach the edge.

Because here's the truth: suicide isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s hidden in the quiet withdrawal, the missed texts, the smiles that don’t reach the eyes.