Walking in Silence: Unheard Voices and the Quiet Grief of Suicide

"Sometimes the loudest cries are never spoken."

I have been thinking a while on how I wanted to approach this, as many recent events have brought it back into perspective that our world is once again losing focus on mental health and those silently suffering. Therefore, I write this to bring awareness and attention to those silently suffering, with a message that you are not alone and help is out there as well as education to those who may not understand what it is like to deal with depression and suicidal thoughts.

Suicide is often described as the ultimate silence - a heartbreaking end to a story that, in many cases, was never fully told. What's less spoken about are the days, months, even years that precede that silence. The moments where someone walks through life carrying a weight so heavy, it becomes easier to mask it than to ask for help.

In therapy, we often meet people who are not screaming for help, but whispering for it. They show up with brave smiles, functioning lives, responsibilities managed, and conversations seem what society would say is "normal." And yet, behind that surface may be a world of unspoken despair, emotional exhaustion, and quiet suffering.

This is the silence of suicide - not just the act itself, but the journey toward it that often unfolds invisibly.

Why the Silence?

People walk in silence for many reasons:

• Shame - They fear judgement for struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts.

• Burden - They don't want to "worry" others or feel like a burden to family and friends.

• Stigma - Cultural, societal, or even personal beliefs that mental health issues are a sign of weakness.

• Hopelessness - The belief that even if they spoke up, nothing would change.

And sometimes, the silence comes from simply not having the words to describe what they're feeling. Emotional pain doesn't always have a language - it can be vague, numbing, and disorienting.

Recognizing the Quiet Walkers

Not everyone who is struggling will say, "I'm not okay." They may instead:

• Withdraw from friends and activities

• Exhibit changes in sleep or appetite

• Mask pain with humor or overachievement

• Express feelings of being "tired", "numb", or "done" in subtle ways

• Give away belongings or speak vaguely about the future

Often, these signs are so easily missed - or misunderstood - that even those closest to the person are unaware of the severity of their pain.

Breaking the Silence - Together

As therapists, friends, family, and fellow humans, we can't always stop someone from walking through emotional darkness - but we can walk with them. We can make it safer to speak, to cry, to collapse without judgement.

• Ask more than once. A simple "How are you really?" can open a door.

• Listen deeply. We often listen to have a response, but not to fully understand.

• Normalize the struggle. Mental health is just that - health. It deserves care, not shame.

• Encourage professional support. Therapy can be life-saving, not just life-improving.

To Those Walking in Silence

If you're reading this and feel like no once sees you - this is for you.

Your pain is real. Your story matters. You do not have to carry it alone.

It's okay not to be okay.

It's okay to speak, even if your voice shakes.

It's okay to ask for help.

And if you can't say it out loud - write it. Text it. Whisper it. Let someone in.

You Are Not Alone

If you or someone you know is struggling with active thoughts of suicide, reach out immediately to the local crisis line. In the U.S., you can contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 - available 24/7.

Let's be a society that listens before the silence. That asks, sits, waits, and holds space. Because behind every quiet smile may be a story that needs to be heard - before it becomes a goodbye.