KAPIT-KAMAY, KAPIT-BUHAY: The Role of the LGBT Community in Suicide Prevention

Every September, the world observes Suicide Prevention Month, a time to shed light on a reality often left unspoken. It is a call to listen to stories of struggle, resilience, and hope.

For the LGBTQIA+ community, however, this observance carries a deeper weight. Rejection, bullying, discrimination, and self-doubt are challenges many have faced, painful shadows that, for some, feel too heavy to bear.

Yet the truth remains: The world is not better without you.

This is where the spirit of “Kapit-Kamay, Kapit-Buhay” comes in. The phrase is more than just words. It is a call for unity and survival. Kapit-kamay reminds us to hold hands, to stay connected, and to draw strength from one another. Kapit-buhay speaks of holding on to life itself, even in the most difficult moments. Together, it becomes a message of solidarity that when we reach out and support each other, we also choose life for ourselves and for the community.

The LGBT community knows too well the sting of being told to hide, to stay silent, or to deny one’s identity. These wounds can harm not just the heart, but also the mind. But equally strong is the community’s spirit of resilience.

A simple reminder: “You are not alone” can make the difference between despair and survival.

Suicide prevention is not only about hotlines or medical intervention though these are vital. It is also about building safe spaces in homes, schools, workplaces, and community gatherings, where people can speak without fear, where acceptance replaces judgment, and where love outweighs shame. Each embrace, each word of encouragement, and each reminder of someone’s worth can become the reason a person chooses to hold on to life for one more day.

As survivors, fighters, and healers, the LGBT community understands pain, but also resilience. Suicide Prevention Month reminds us to check in with one another, to speak up, and to affirm that every life has beauty and value. Pride is not only about parades and flags. It is also about standing firm in the storm and declaring, “I am still here, and so are you.”

To anyone silently struggling, know that you are not alone. FTS Lobo Organization Inc., as an LGBTQIA+ family, stands with you, not only in moments of celebration but also in the journey of healing. Your life has meaning, your story is not finished, and we need you here.

Together, let us live out the message of Kapit-Kamay, Kapit-Buhay, choosing hope, love, and solidarity. Because every time one of us chooses to live, all of us rise.

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KAPIT-KAMAY, KAPIT-BUHAY: The Role of the LGBT Community in Suicide Prevention

Written by: Jerry Shangyin

(FTS LOBO-Chairman of the Board of Directors)

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