Keep Going: Hope, Belief, and Suicide Prevention
Keep Going: Hope, Belief, and Suicide Prevention
Just because someone carries it well doesn’t mean it isn’t heavy. Sometimes the ones who seem the strongest are the ones who need support the most.
We ask, “How are you?” “You good?” and “Are you OK?” so often, but rarely do we listen for the answer. What if we actually did? What if instead of rushing past the question, we leaned in, looked someone in the eye, and gave them permission to be honest? Sometimes the simplest act of listening can be the lifeline that keeps someone holding on. The greatest gift we can give is space—space to be real, space to be heard, space to know they’re not alone.
Fifteen years ago, we lost Coach Welsh to suicide. He wasn’t just a coach—he was a mentor, a motivator, and someone who poured into the lives of the people around him. His loss left a hole that can’t be filled, but his impact is still felt in every story told, every lesson remembered, and every person he believed in.
I heard this quote recently, and as the kids say, “it hit different”:
“When someone dies by suicide, the pain doesn’t end — it transfers.”
The world shifts in ways you can’t describe. Shock hits first, then grief. It is heavy and unrelenting. You feel guilt. You feel anger. Confusion fills the spaces where answers should be. Grief doesn’t have a timeline. It comes in waves, sudden and unexpected. Those left behind carry it for the rest of their lives.
I’ve had moments at my lowest, walking through storms no one else could see. In the classroom, at my desk, on the sidelines, and at home. On the outside, I looked fine. Inside, I wasn’t. But slowly, day by day, you start to find pieces of hope. You find strength you didn’t know you had in the darkest moments. You keep breathing. You keep moving. You remember the person in a song lyric, an old photo, or a laugh shared long ago. You let yourself feel the pain fully, because it’s in feeling it that you begin to process, survive, and grow.
You keep going.
Each of us walks a different path, with different roles and responsibilities, but our status—our worth—remains the same. The hardest battles are invisible, which makes it all the more important to help others feel seen and heard. Belief is one of life’s intangibles. You can’t hold it in your hand, but you can feel it in your heart. It often shows up when we need it most, and sometimes it carries us when nothing else can.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and this year let’s make a promise to each other to: Raise awareness. Promote hope. Normalize seeking help. Recognize the warning signs. Encourage conversations. Connect people to resources. Be kind. Believe in others. Be there for people. If you are struggling please know that you are not alone. Talk to a friend, a teammate, a coach, a counselor, or call 988 the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. There are people ready to listen and walk with you through the storm.
For those who knew and loved Coach, we carry a scar together—one that bonds us forever. This time of year is always hard for me. It brings back the pain, the sadness, and memories I wish I could forget. But it also reminds me of the good—the smiles, the conversations, and the people who have shaped my life.
Through Adversity Comes Strength.
Bryan Fisher
#Grateful
