When the Silence Feels Heavy: Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

9/8/25

Some doors feel too heavy to open, too broken to close. That thought echoed through my mind as I looked at an image I recently captured — a door handle worn and broken, leaving only emptiness where something once fit. It felt like more than just decay; it felt like a metaphor for what so many people silently carry.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and while the conversation around mental health often feels uncomfortable, it’s one we can’t afford to ignore. Silence can be the heaviest weight. Sharing this work is personal for me — suicide awareness is something I’m deeply passionate about. I’ve seen how pain can isolate, how people can feel locked away in places that seem impossible to escape. But I’ve also seen how a single conversation, a single check-in, can shift someone’s story toward hope.

Photography, for me, has always been more than just images. It’s a way of giving voice to the unseen and the forgotten. This month is a reminder that behind every face, every silence, every shadow, there’s a story still worth telling.

If you’re struggling, please know you are not alone. Your story matters. If someone you know is carrying a weight you can’t see, reaching out may be the light they need.

📞 Call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 

Help is available 24/7.

Because no door, no matter how broken, should stay closed forever.

How You Can Help

Supporting mental health doesn’t always mean doing something big — sometimes the simplest gestures make the biggest difference. A kind word, a check-in message, or sharing resources can save a life.

If you’d like to go a step further, you can also support my To Write Love on Her Arms Suicide Awareness Fundraiser https://give.twloha.com/fundraiser/6581873. Every donation, no matter the size, goes directly toward creating awareness and supporting mental health initiatives. Helping is easier than most people realize — and together, small actions add up to real change.

Join the Conversation

I’d love to hear from you. If you’ve walked through moments of silence and found light on the other side, share your story in the comments or send me a message. Your voice may be exactly what someone else needs to hear today.

Together, we can keep breaking the silence and reminding each other that every story is worth continuing. Please keep your fire burning bright.