World Suicide Prevention Day: Why Paying Attention Could Be The Most Powerful Intervention

Last Updated:September 10, 2025, 17:36 IST

On World Suicide Prevention Day, mental health experts share how small acts of attention, empathy, and early support can help save lives.

Small acts of attention can save lives.

Every life holds a story, but sometimes those stories are weighed down by pain that goes unseen. On World Suicide Prevention Day, marked on September 10, we are reminded that saving a life doesn’t always come from grand gestures. It often begins with the smallest ones: a pause to listen, a kind word, a moment of genuine attention. These acts, though simple, can make the difference between silence and support, despair and hope.

“We need to understand that prevention cannot rest on institutions alone. It depends on how each of us chooses to engage with mental health in our daily lives,” explains Mrs. Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson of the Aditya Birla Education Trust.

Recognising Early Signs

Suicidal distress rarely arrives with an obvious announcement. Instead, it shows up in subtle shifts in behaviour, mood, and energy.

According to Dr. Bhavya K Bairy, Consultant – Psychiatry, Manipal Hospitals Kanakapura Road, Bengaluru, “Individuals in distress rarely ask for help. By paying attention to those around us, we can detect distress-based behaviours and intervene before a crisis emerges.”

She points to signals such as prolonged sadness, social withdrawal, deteriorating hygiene, absenteeism from work or school, disrupted sleep and eating patterns, and even self-reported hopelessness or feeling like a burden. “Talking to these individuals, helping them feel heard and valued, can create a ripple effect of hope,” she adds.

The Role of Everyday Attention

The smallest gestures can have profound effects. From checking in with a text to inviting someone for coffee, these moments of connection can interrupt spirals of negative thought.

“Small acts of kindness stimulate neurochemicals like serotonin and oxytocin, improve moods, and strengthen connectedness,” notes Dr. Bairy.

For Shivanee Tripathy, Consultant – RCI Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, the act of paying attention can make the difference between silence and support. “An old man rambling on the streets, a woman struggling to breathe at work, or a child refusing school, these moments are often ignored, but they may be quiet cries for help,” she explains.

Question, Pursue, Refer

Tripathy suggests a three-step approach: Question, Pursue, Refer.

• “Signs to question include avoiding social interaction, unusual injuries, emotional outbursts, or gloomy posts on social media,” she says.
• Pursuing means staying engaged even if the person insists they are fine: “Offer calm assurance, provide hope, and demonstrate positive regard.”
• When symptoms escalate, such as violent behaviour, self-injury, poor self-care, or worsening sleep and appetite, it’s time to refer to professionals. “Evaluation by a trained mental health professional may prevent tragedies before they happen,” she stresses.

Turning Awareness Into Action

Ultimately, experts emphasise that suicide prevention is not only about medical systems but about cultural change. “By recognising early warning signs, normalising conversations, and creating environments where people feel empowered to seek help, we can turn awareness into action,” says Mrs. Birla.

As the world observes Suicide Prevention Day, the message is clear: we can all be gatekeepers of mental health. Listening without judgment, checking in with genuine concern, and guiding others to professional help are not small acts; they are lifesaving ones.

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Author: News18