The Conversation I’ll Never Forget: What Losing a Friend to Suicide Taught Me About Showing Up
Nassau, The Bahamas – September 8, 2025
I still remember the last conversation we had.
We were sitting behind the gym after school — the place we went when we didn’t want to be seen. He was quiet that day, quieter than usual, picking at his shoelace while I rambled about weekend plans. When I finally asked what was wrong, he smiled and said, “Nothing. I’m fine.”
I believed him.
A week later, he was gone.
The Story That Changed Everything
He was one of those people everyone liked but no one truly knew — funny, smart, always making jokes at his own expense. What most people didn’t see was how relentless the bullying had become. The whispers in the hallways, the online comments, the way laughter turned into knives.
He tried to brush it off, tried to stay strong, but even strength has limits.
At the time, I didn’t understand how something like that could happen. How someone so full of light could fall into that kind of darkness. But the truth is, it doesn’t happen all at once — it happens slowly, like a candle burning out when no one’s looking.
And I didn’t look closely enough.
The Silence We Don’t Talk About
In The Bahamas, we talk about strength a lot. We say, “Be strong,” “Pray on it,” “Shake it off.” But when it comes to mental health — especially suicide — our culture still struggles to make space for softness.
According to the 2025 Global School Health Survey, 1 in 5 Bahamian teens has attempted suicide, and nearly 1 in 4 has seriously considered it. Behind those numbers are stories like my friend’s — young people who felt unheard, unseen, and unprotected.
And it’s not just the youth. The national suicide rate in The Bahamas hovers around 3.25 deaths per 100,000 people, but those numbers only tell part of the story. The real crisis lies in silence — in the people who don’t ask for help because they’re afraid of judgment, or worse, punishment.
Attempting suicide is still considered a criminal offense under the Penal Code (Chapter 84, Section 294) — a law that not only adds stigma but keeps people from seeking support. It’s a silence we can no longer afford.
What I Wish I Knew Then
Looking back, there are things I wish I’d said, questions I wish I’d asked, and moments I wish I’d sat a little longer in. But wishing won’t bring him back. What it can do, though, is change how I show up now.
Because the truth is, suicide prevention doesn’t start in crisis — it starts in connection. It starts with listening before it’s too late.
As The Hon. Dr. Adrian Fox, Co-Founder of the Fox Foundation, says,
“Prevention begins with presence. Sometimes, saving a life isn’t about having the right words — it’s about showing someone they’re worth staying for.”
What We Can Do — Right Now
We can’t turn back time, but we can change how we move forward. During H.F.L.E. Suicide Prevention Week, and every week after, let’s make this promise: to notice, to listen, and to act.
Here’s how:
🧡 1. Contribution: Support Mental Health Access
Donate to organizations that offer free or affordable counseling in The Bahamas. Every contribution helps ensure that no one faces mental health struggles alone.
💬 2. Connection: Ask Twice
When someone says they’re “fine,” ask again. Check in on the quiet ones, the funny ones, the ones who seem like they’re holding it all together. Sometimes one question can save a life.
🤝 3. Commitment: Break the Silence
Talk about mental health openly — at home, in schools, online. Challenge the stigma that makes people afraid to seek help. Use your voice so others can find theirs.
For Him — and Everyone Like Him
I still think about my friend often. About how he used to make us laugh until we cried, and how none of us realized he was crying long before that.
If I could see him again, I’d tell him that none of what they said about him mattered — that he was loved, that he was enough, that the world needed him here.
We can’t undo the pain of the past, but we can honor it by protecting the next generation from feeling the same despair.
So this week, as The Bahamas observes H.F.L.E. Suicide Prevention Week, let’s remember that awareness is not just a campaign — it’s a commitment to compassion.
Let’s look a little closer, listen a little deeper, and love a little louder.
Because sometimes, the smallest act of care can change — or even save — a life.
💛 From the Fox Foundation — continuing the mission to build stronger, safer, and more compassionate communities across The Bahamas.
Why Suicide Prevention Week Matters
This week is about awareness, compassion, and connection. It encourages all Bahamians to:
Recognize warning signs, risk factors, and ways to seek help.
Destigmatize mental health so those struggling feel safe to speak up.
Mobilize families, schools, workplaces, and faith groups to take part in prevention.
Intervene early, especially among youth and vulnerable populations.
Advocate for improved access to mental health services and reform outdated laws.
The Fox Foundation’s Commitment
The Fox Foundation proudly joins H.F.L.E. and local partners in observing this important week. Mental health is as vital as physical health, and caring for the whole person requires both awareness and action.
Adrianna Fox, Co-Founder of the Fox Foundation, shares:
“Too many lives in The Bahamas have ended quietly before we acted. We owe it to our youth, our families, and our brothers and sisters in this country to talk openly, reach out early, and build support that lasts beyond a single week. Awareness begins here, but prevention must become our way of life.”
How You Can Help
Every Bahamian can play a role in prevention:
Recognize the warning signs — withdrawal, hopelessness, mood swings, or talk of being a burden.
Reach out — talk to someone you trust or call a crisis hotline. Help is always available.
Check in — on friends, coworkers, and neighbours, especially those facing loss or change.
Support youth — encourage open conversations about mental health at home and in schools.
Advocate for change — support mental health funding, education, and decriminalization efforts.
A Call to Community
Suicide is not inevitable. It is preventable — if we act together, openly, and compassionately. The rising signs of distress among Bahamian teens remind us that silence can no longer be an option.
During H.F.L.E. Suicide Prevention Week, the Fox Foundation encourages every Bahamian to pause, to listen, and to act. Whether you are the one reaching out or the one being reached out to, remember: speaking up can save a life.
You matter. Your story matters. And together, we can build a stronger, healthier, and more caring Bahamas.
Where to Get Help
📞 National Suicide Prevention Hotline (Bahamas): (242) 322-2763
📞 Bahamas Crisis Centre (General Support): (242) 328-0922
#SuicidePreventionWeek #MentalHealthBahamas #SpeakUpSaveLives #FoxFoundation #HFLENational #YouAreNotAlone
About The Fox Foundation
The Fox Foundation is a Bahamian nonprofit organization founded by The Hon. Dr. Adrian Fox and Adrianna Fox. Its mission is to improve lives and empower communities across The Bahamas through initiatives focused on education, youth development, community unity, and relief & resilience. Since its establishment, the Foundation has spearheaded programs that provide school scholarships, educational resources, mentorship opportunities, and community support to those in need. From annual back-to-school drives in Kemp Road to national relief efforts, the Fox Foundation remains dedicated to creating generational change by ensuring every child and family has the opportunity, tools, and support to build a brighter future.
For more information, please contact:
Lia Castillo
Marketing Director
The Fox Foundation
+1 (305) 467-1420
Lia.castillo@aafgroup.biz
