Changing the narrative on suicide for Iranians in distress
In Iran, where mounting financial, societal and emotional pressures are leaving many struggling to cope after months of conflict, SAT-7 PARS is creating spaces where people can speak openly, be heard and find support.
The first words are always stark…
“I am so tired. I no longer have the strength to continue. Sometimes I become so hopeless that thoughts of suicide and not wanting to continue come into my mind. I do not think anyone truly understands the pressure I am carrying. I feel very alone.”
The Iranian woman who reached out to SAT-7 PARS was shouldering enormous responsibility: her husband had been injured; she was managing the financial and practical burden of family alone; a failed business venture had further straitened the family’s circumstances. She was, it was clear, at breaking point…
“Our first priority”
“When someone contacts us expressing profound hopelessness, thoughts of self-harm, or suicidal thoughts, our first priority is to establish contact and listen,” explains Ashraf Khalilpour, SAT-7 PARS Viewer Support Manager. “We try to create a compassionate and non-judgmental space in which the person can describe what they are experiencing and know that their message has been taken seriously.”
Further steps include asking about their immediate safety and encouraging them not to remain alone; urging them to contact someone they trust, a mental-health professional or local emergency services; offering prayer and an opportunity to speak to a SAT-7 PARS counsellor, alongside continued follow-up where possible.
Such conversations matter in Iran, where suicide is a serious public health issue.
World Health Organization reporting highlights continuing challenges around stigma, limited resources and mental health data, even as mental health support becomes increasingly integrated into primary care. Young people are of particular concern. A recent analysis of Iran’s suicide cases found the greatest age-specific impact among younger adults, while globally suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15- to 29-year-olds.
Changing the Narrative
This year, World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September continues with the theme “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”: an international effort to move away from silence and stigma towards greater openness, understanding and support. The World Health Organization says creating environments in which people feel able to speak and seek help is central to that change.
It is an idea reflected powerfully in the work of SAT-7 PARS.
Over recent months, conflict, intensified sanctions and social unrest have further weakened an already struggling Iranian economy. Inflation has soared, real incomes have fallen, and families face rising food costs alongside persistent water and energy shortages.
For many, financial insecurity is compounded by uncertainty about the future; adding to the family, social and emotional pressures SAT-7 PARS is already hearing from viewers.
For Iranians experiencing crisis, the Viewer Support team becomes a lifeline; a safe space in which true feelings can be admitted, often for the first time.
“Many people who contact us feel unable to speak openly about suicidal thoughts, depression, family conflict, emotional exhaustion, or feelings of failure,” says Ashraf.
“For some people, the first message they send us may be the first time they have expressed the depth of their hopelessness to anyone.”
Behind Closed Doors
SAT-7 PARS is also addressing despair through its programming. In June, the season finale of Mirror, entitled The Silent Suicide, explored the gradual loss of hope, motivation and connection to the future while someone may outwardly continue with life. The programme highlighted warning signs of despair, alongside the importance of practical support, solidarity, faith and enduring hope.
And the channel is also creating spaces for difficult conversations before someone reaches a point of crisis.
In July, separate online workshops for men and women addressed some of the most acute pressures Iranians are experiencing.
For men, the subject was anger amid severe social, financial and emotional strain. Participants spoke about family pressures, exhaustion and the difficulty of expressing emotions. The combination of psychological expertise, Christian counselling and open discussion created a space in which men could speak honestly about struggles they might usually keep hidden.
The women’s workshop focused on emotional exhaustion and burnout. At one point, participants were asked: “When was the last time someone genuinely asked how you were? Not as a routine greeting, but because they truly wanted to know what was happening inside you?”
For several, it had been a long time. One woman later admitted: “When I was able to speak, I felt as though a burden had been lifted from my shoulders.”
An upcoming webinar will address the issue of suicide and suicidal thoughts directly, helping participants understand the social pressures and psychological factors involved while also offering hope and practical guidance.
Buried for Years
“Starting the conversation does not mean that we must immediately have all the answers,” says Ashraf. “It means making it possible for someone to say, ‘I cannot cope any longer,’ ‘I feel completely alone,’ or ‘I am thinking about ending my life,’ without being rejected, condemned or silenced.”
And in the messages, counselling sessions and workshops of SAT-7 PARS, those conversations are continuing. Ashraf stressed that the support offered by the channel is not intended as a replacement for professional mental health treatment, but added:
“For a person who feels forgotten, ashamed, or completely alone, a response that says, ‘We have heard you; your life matters; and you do not have to carry this pain alone,’ can become an important first step towards accepting further help.”
- On World Suicide Prevention Day, let’s pray for all those experiencing hopelessness and despair; that they will be able to reach out for support and find the help they need.