25/09/2026
September is observed globally as Su***de Prevention Month; a time to speak, to listen, to remember, and, above all, to act. Yet, while the world was calling for greater action, on 11th September 2026, Paul* (not his real name) died by su***de in Igwamiti Ward, Laikipia County.
Paul was not a statistic. He was a son. He was a worker. He was a man who had fought his way through recovery and, for a time, seemed to have found his footing again.
Paul joined St. Martin CSA's Community Programme for Mental Health in 2024 with substance-use-related challenges. He enrolled in the Intensive Outpatient Rehabilitation programme and successfully completed the 13-week journey. With the support of mental health volunteers and a caring family, he began rebuilding his life. He secured employment on a horticultural farm and, for two years, showed encouraging signs of recovery.
Then, in a single September day, his journey ended.
His death leaves more than grief. It leaves questions. Could someone have noticed? Could someone have asked one more question? Could a conversation, a timely intervention, a compassionate presence, or a stronger safety net have made a difference? We may never know the answers. But Paul's story makes one truth impossible to ignore: su***de prevention cannot wait for tomorrow.
Recovery does not always mean that the struggle has disappeared. A person may return to work, reconnect with family, smile again, and still carry an unseen burden. This is why prevention must extend beyond moments of crisis. It must live in our homes, our communities, our workplaces, our schools, our churches, and our health systems; in the willingness to notice, to listen, to ask, and to remain present.
Paul's death therefore becomes more than a painful memory. It becomes a call to action.
As we mark World Su***de Prevention Month, we are reminded of the words of Jesus: “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few” (Matthew 9:37). The harvest is the lives around us. The labourers are those willing to notice, listen, accompany, and act. And the time is now.
This article by Murage Maina an Charles Mathenge seeks to deepen our understanding, challenge silence and stigma, strengthen community action, and help ensure that when another person is struggling, someone is there to notice and to help. Because behind every number is a name. And behind every name is a life worth saving.
***dePreventionMonth
Understand su***de dynamics and community-based mental health interventions in Kenya. See how St. Martin CSA reduces stigma and supports recovery.
