The Compassionate Friends NPO in Highlands North is hosting a heartfelt gathering to shine a light on one of the most urgent issues facing young people today: suicide prevention.

Each year, countless families across the globe are forced to face the unthinkable, the sudden loss of a child, grandchild or sibling to suicide. These are not just statistics but stories of promise interrupted, futures unlived, and families left navigating a sea of grief, silence and unanswered questions.

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According to recent studies, suicide is now one of the leading causes of death among those aged 15 to 29 worldwide. In South Africa, an estimated 23 lives are lost to suicide every single day. Behind every number lies a loved one, a son, a daughter, a brother, a sister, a classmate or a dear friend.

And yet, despite the growing crisis, suicide remains one of society’s most whispered-about subjects. In many homes and communities, families feel silenced by stigma and shame, unsure how to speak of their loss or to reach out for the support they so desperately need. This silence only deepens the pain.

But silence does not save lives. Compassion does. Awareness does. Open conversations do. Suicide is often the outcome of immense emotional pain, untreated mental health struggles, trauma or overwhelming hopelessness. These are challenges that can be eased when we are willing to see, to listen and to walk beside those who are suffering.

“The tragedy of suicide should not define how our children are remembered,” said Andrea Berzan, one of the members of The Compassionate Friends. “Their lives were about love, laughter and dreams, and that is what we hold on to.”

Organisations such as The Compassionate Friends provide a sanctuary for bereaved families to gather, to share and to find understanding. They encourage honest dialogue about suicide and highlight the importance of truly listening to young people who feel unseen in a world of mounting pressures, from academic expectations to bullying and identity struggles.

This September, as the world marks Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, The Compassionate Friends in Highlands North will host a remembrance morning on September 10, from 10:00 to 12:00 at 122 Athol Street. Parents, grandparents and siblings are warmly invited to share in a quiet moment of reflection, a comforting cup of tea and the chance to honour the lives of children and young people gone too soon.

No one should suffer in silence. No family should walk this road alone. And no young person should ever feel their life does not matter. By breaking the silence, we honour every story, every life and every memory with love, empathy and unwavering hope.

For more information, contact 078 147 02705 or 011 440 6322.

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