The image pictures a friend comforting another reminding us that we are not alone. From left to right, Carlin Parkin and Harrison Steed photographed by Natalie Wood.

Disclaimer: This story is about suicide and may be challenging for some to read. If you are in need of immediate help please call 9-1-1 or if you are in need of support to talk with someone call the 9-8-8 help line.

When 12 people are lost every day to suicide, one professional from Lethbridge Family Services says how the loss doesn’t just hurt the person, but also all of their friends and family impacting them in various ways.

John Thompson from Lethbridge Family Services says that loss doesn’t just hurt the person, but the relationships that come with it.

“I can say that the loss of a loved one to suicide affects not only everyone, but it affects the relationships between them. So, you can imagine, that that other, children in the family, other youth in the family potentially losing a sibling is different than parents losing a child. It’s not better or worse. And it’s not necessarily more or less intense for any one family member because of their role. It’s about the relationship and it’s about the connectedness.”

According to The Government of Canada’s Suicide Prevention Page, every year, approximately 4,500 people in Canada die by suicide, which is equivalent to 12 people dying by suicide every day.

Not only that, according to The World Health Organization, 727, 000 people die to suicide worldwide every year. When someone commits suicide, we don’t realize how much effect it has on people. The emotional and physical distress being sometimes too much and pushing them as well to commit suicide. It is a harsh topic; nobody wants to talk about suicide even though every day we lose at least 12 people.

A common experience when a loved one dies are the what ifs, and sometimes the hardest part is not having the answers. “

So, one of the things is it’s a very common experience for loss in general for, of, you know, when, when a loved one dies, a friend or family member or a pet for that matter. It’s a very common experience for people to ask why and what if. So, they ask things like, well, why did this happen? And they we have a quest for understanding. And as human beings, that’s not a bad thing that that comes from, you know, our need to understand the, the world.,” he said.

Thompson further explained that loss we make an idea of what could happen, so it doesn’t hurt, and when it doesn’t happen the way we thought it would, causes that shock that becomes hard to deal with.

One way the city of Lethbridge has deterred people from ending their life are signs at the Canadian Pacific Railway Bridge. It says, “Life is worth Living” and has the crisis helpline on the front. Lethbridge Family Services offer training for suicide prevention and teach others how to help someone who may be struggling with loss. But even with resources that sometimes isn’t enough. Sometimes recognizing the people around us and realizing were not alone does more then we think.

“Let’s say you’re a parent or somebody and your kid just like lost a friend to suicide, you should probably like, check up on them and make sure that like they’re not going to do it too because I feel like once somebody loses somebody they feel like they should, because I, um, did when I lost my friends,” said Jordayn Sehn, an 18-year-old girl from Edson, Alberta.

She has lost two friends to teen suicide. There are hundreds of people’s stories from around the world of people struggling with the same issue.

Suicide is so common among some peoples’ day to day life that it doesn’t affect them, others not so much. It depends on connection and relation to the person. If you feel like you need help do not hesitate to reach out.

“I would say to recognize that it might feel like you’re all alone right now, but there are supports available. But remember that finding the support that works for you is what’s really important, because we can’t assume that this is a one size fits all kind of experience.”

Thompson also explained that it’s okay to not be okay. You are not alone, remember the 9-8-8 line is always available and Lethbridge Polytechnic offers free counselling services to students in need.