World Suicide Prevention Day: Choosing Life in the Midst of Darkness
- Felicia Goosen
- Sep 10
- 2 min read
Every year on September 10th, the world comes together for World Suicide Prevention Day, a day to raise awareness, spread hope, and remind people everywhere that life is worth living.
This day is deeply personal to me because my journey has not been free from the shadows of suicidal thoughts and attempts. In my Biography, Prison Child, I share raw moments of despair, when the pain of rejection, abandonment, and trauma felt too heavy to carry.
There were nights I believed the world would be better off without me. I turned to self-harm as a way to silence my emotions, and when that wasn’t enough, I attempted to end my life. Not once, but multiple times. I didn’t want to die, but I desperately wanted the pain to stop.
What changed everything for me was the realization that my story wasn’t over. That the confusion I was born into didn’t define me. That even in my darkest moments, God had not abandoned me. Slowly, through counselling, faith, and choosing healing daily, I discovered that what I once thought was the end became the very foundation for my purpose.
Today, as the founder and CEO of Future Generation Wellness, Director of FGwellness Life Foundation, Author and Youth Advocate, I stand not as someone who “has it all together,” but as living proof that healing is possible. I am here because I chose life, even when it felt impossible. And now I help others make that choice too.
Prison Child, avaliable here
💛 A Message of Hope:
If you are struggling today, please know:
You are not a burden.
You are not a mistake.
You are not alone.
Your story matters.
This moment will not last forever.
There is hope beyond what you are feeling right now. I am living proof.
How We Can All Take Action on World Suicide Prevention Day
Start the conversation. Don’t be afraid to ask someone how they’re really doing.
Break the stigma. Mental health struggles are not weakness.
Offer presence, not solutions. Sometimes listening is the greatest act of love.
Encourage professional and spiritual support. Therapy, counselling, prayer, and community all save lives.
My Prayer for You
Lord, I lift up every person reading this who feels unseen or unloved. Remind them that they are Your masterpiece, created for a purpose. Consume the heaviness they are feeling with light, and their despair with hope. Amen.
If You’re in Crisis
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help immediately. Call your local emergency number or a suicide prevention hotline in your country. In South Africa, you can call SADAG Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0800 567 567.
You are not alone. You are deeply loved. And your life is worth living.
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