This article is for you. No matter where you are reading this from, this article is for you. If you were at any way engaged by the title, this article is for you. If simple curiosity got the better of you, and you figured “why not click on this article, I got a couple minutes to spare,” this article is for you.

In fact, this entire week is supposed to be for you. The banners, the buttons, the blogs: all offering a twist on the simple message that you are not alone in what you are fighting.

It’s true that you are not alone, whether you are fighting the stigma and occurrence of suicide on your own behalf or for loved ones who have fought. Movement against suicide is a body of people, each single one important and vital.

That’s what the banners and buttons and blogs are: weaponized art made by warriors, for warriors, to fight against suicide. Many times they motivate and inspire. But occasionally something is just “off.” Maybe the words ring hollow. Maybe the lyrics feel forced or insincere. It’s okay to feel that way. It’s okay to be a skeptic to what you see and hear and read this week.

If you are struggling with thoughts of taking your own life, I want you to know that it’s okay if nothing seems to be registering this week. Don’t feel pressured into reading one happy self-help story and immediately act like your life has been changed, that your pain is gone, that society’s quick fix worked as planned. It is okay to admit when nothing seems to be working.

And now that we have admitted to each other that nothing so far has worked, maybe we can take a step towards finding something that will work? It often starts with talking with a friend, and that can definitely work.

“Hey, I’m not sure how my life is going to work out.” “I don’t know where my life is going.” “I don’t know if I want it to go anywhere.” These words can truly start the process of honesty, healing, and hope. Sometimes our friends won’t give us the best advice, or any helpful advice at all. They can be like the banners or buttons or blogs. But now that we are back in square one, we can try again.

The trying can be tiresome. I understand that completely. To feel that there is truly no one and nothing that can help you is defeating. But each day, there are new chances, new developments, new ways to find that process of honesty, healing, and hope. It can be scary to even think about waking up tomorrow, to face the challenges, the illness, or the emptiness. I’m scared to face all of those, too.

But what out ways my fear is thinking back to that movement, that body of people. I think about each of them as storytellers, explaining their encounters with the dark force that is suicide. Most importantly, I think about them as warriors. I think about you as a warrior too. A warrior who doesn’t have to battle suicide alone.

There are resources ready for you to use and/or share with others. Music has always helped me make sense of and fight against those darker thoughts. I want to offer you a playlist of tracks that have helped me in one way or another.

Above the playlist are various numbers to call. If you feel that everything is just too much right now, just know that there are people that care about you and want to see you again tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that. Those people are on the other side of those lines.

I truly hope that these resources help. Just know that those who understand what you feel are rooting for your healing, rooting for you to win the fight against suicide, and are more than happy to help you.

I hope you have a peaceful, comforting rest of your day. Stay safe. You are not alone.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – Call 800-273-TALK (8255)

Lifeline’s 24/7 En Español – Llama 1-888-628-9454

Crisis Text Line – Text NAMI to 741-741