I hope you choose to stay

In honour of Mental Health Awareness Month,
this is dedicated to those fighting unseen battles,
those learning to keep their heads above water,

and those who have the courage to open their arms to others while still healing themselves.

You are never alone.

I recently had a conversation with a stranger who had witnessed a tragic incident in which a man had jumped off a building and sadly ended his life. From his description of the scene, it was horrendous and he couldn’t look twice. It is quite chilling to think that someone really had felt so helpless to reach such a point in his life- to think that to end it all was the solution- to not have the willpower to go on. The stranger highlighted that he could not fathom what sort of challenges or pain one would have had to encounter to reach that point. In his opinion, no problem regardless of its magnitude could ever justify a person taking their own life. And while I understand that sentiment, it made me stop and think about how often we take for granted, or even dismiss, the silent struggles others are enduring. A mountain that might seem insurmountable to one person might be an easy feat for another, but that doesn’t make the pain any less valid nor does it diminish the depth of their suffering. We all have different thresholds for what we can endure before we break. That’s why it’s important to be compassionate instead of judgmental. Even when we don’t fully understand, we should care enough not to look away.

The truth is, many people are fighting silent battles, hiding their pain behind smiles and everyday routines . Often, you’d never know what someone is carrying just by looking at them. That’s why it’s so important to be gracious with one another. A kind word, a small gesture, or simply treating someone with gentleness — these things might seem small, but to someone who’s struggling, they can mean the world. They might even be the reason someone chooses to hold on for one more day. On the other hand, unkindness — even when unintended — can cut deeply and sometimes push someone closer to the edge. So practice kindness, always. It costs nothing, but its impact could be life-changing.

When we know someone is struggling, it’s important to reach out — to check in, even if it’s just a message or a few words of care. Sometimes, we can’t solve their problems, and that’s okay. Just being there, showing up, reminding them they’re not alone can make a world of difference. Knowing that someone cares, even in the smallest ways, can be enough to soften the weight of the load they are carrying. Even the smallest act of love can echo in ways we’ll never see — and sometimes, that’s enough to turn a story around.

I can’t help but wonder — the man who jumped from that building, could he have been saved? If someone had reached out, if someone had shown him kindness or extended grace… would it have made a difference? Would he have seen that his pain, though deep, wasn’t the end of his story? Would he have searched for a glimmer of light, however faint, and chosen to stay — for one more day, and another, and another? That will always be an unanswered question. And that, in itself, is heartbreaking.

You don’t have to go through it alone. Please, seek help and don’t feel shame for it. Some burdens become lighter when shared. However, in moments of deep vulnerability, please be mindful of who and where you turn to for help. Not everyone will know how to hold your pain with the care it deserves, so only reach out to those you trust — those who make you feel safe, heard, and seen.

And even when it feels like no one sees you, please know this: You are not invisible. You are not a burden. You are loved. You are worthy

I don’t believe that those who lost the fight and chose to end their lives were weak. Far from it. They carried their pain for as long as they could, and for reasons we may never fully understand because we were not in their shoes,the weight became too much. It wasn’t about giving up easily. It was about reaching a point where the suffering felt unbearable. That doesn’t make them failures. It doesn’t make them selfish. It makes them human. And that’s why we need to speak more openly about mental health, to reach out sooner, to show up for one another — not with judgment, but empathy. Maybe, just maybe, in doing so…a life could be saved.

“Mental health is not just the absence of illness, but the presence of strength — the quiet resilience to withstand life’s challenges, adapt through storms, and still find light in the smallest things.” –Unknown