September is an important time to pause, check in with the people around us, and remind one another of something simple but powerful: you matter.
World Suicide Prevention Day is observed every year on September 10. It is an opportunity to raise awareness, reduce the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health, and encourage conversations that can help people feel less alone. The World Health Organization notes that the 2024–2026 theme is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide,” with a focus on replacing silence and stigma with openness, compassion, and support.
Suicide prevention isn’t just something we talk about one day a year. It is something we can all participate in—by checking in with a friend, listening without judgment, learning how to recognize when someone may be struggling, and helping connect people with support when they need it.
Start the Conversation
Talking about mental health doesn’t have to be complicated.
Sometimes it starts with a simple, “How are you really doing?”
When someone tells you they’re struggling, you don’t have to have all the answers. Listening, showing compassion, and helping them connect with appropriate professional support can make a meaningful difference.
Changing the narrative means making it easier for people to say, “I’m not okay,” without feeling ashamed or judged. It means reminding our friends, family members, coworkers, classmates, and neighbors that asking for help is a sign of strength—not weakness.
And sometimes, the most important thing we can say is simply:
You don’t have to go through this alone.
Local Mental Health Resources in Fort Wayne
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available right here in our community.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
If you are experiencing a mental health or suicide crisis, you can call or text 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Support is available 24/7.
If there is an immediate danger or a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Parkview Behavioral Health
For those in the Fort Wayne area, Parkview Behavioral Health offers behavioral health and crisis resources. Its HelpLine is available 24 hours a day at 260-471-9440 or 800-284-8439, where trained specialists can help connect individuals and families with appropriate care and resources.
Parkview also operates a Psychiatric Emergency Services Center at Parkview Hospital Randallia in Fort Wayne, which is open 24/7.
Whether you are personally struggling or concerned about someone you love, reaching out for help is an important step.
Join Us for the You Matter 5K
One of the best ways to turn awareness into action is to come together as a community—and that’s exactly what the You Matter 5K is all about.
The 2026 You Matter 5K will take place on Saturday, September 12, at 8:30 a.m. at Purdue University Fort Wayne. Organized by Chi Eta Sigma, the graduate counseling honor society at Purdue Fort Wayne, the event brings the community together to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention while honoring those we have lost.
The event is about so much more than running. You can run, walk, participate in memory of someone you love, support a friend or family member, or simply show up to stand alongside your community.
Proceeds from the event support counseling education at Purdue Fort Wayne and mental health initiatives throughout Northeast Indiana.
You Matter 5K
📅 Saturday, September 12, 2026
📍 Purdue University Fort Wayne
⏰ 8:30 a.m.
You still have a few days to register on their website https://runsignup.com/Race/IN/FortWayne/YouMatter5KFW
If you can’t make it to this incredible event, you can still donate! This is also an annual event, so keep your eyes out for it next year!
You Can Make a Difference
Suicide prevention can feel like an overwhelming issue, but each of us has an opportunity to contribute to a more supportive community.
Check in on someone who has been distant. Invite a friend to coffee. Listen when someone needs to talk. Learn about local resources. Share the 988 Lifeline. Attend an event like the You Matter 5K.
Most importantly, don’t underestimate the power of reminding someone that they are valued.
You matter. Your friends matter. Your family matters. Your coworkers matter. Your community matters.
This World Suicide Prevention Day, let’s change the narrative together. Let’s make conversations about mental health more compassionate, make asking for help feel more normal, and make sure the people around us know they don’t have to face difficult moments alone.
And if you are struggling right now, please reach out. Help is available, and you deserve support.