UPF Statement on World Suicide Prevention Day: Life is Needed, You are Needed — Tageldin Ibrahim Hamad

On September 10, World Suicide Prevention Day, the Universal Peace Federation affirms the sacredness of life and our shared responsibility to walk with those who suffer. Suicide is not only a personal tragedy; it is a wound to families, communities, and ultimately to our shared human destiny. Today, we remember those we have lost, and we renew our pledge to be guardians of hope, healing, and dignity for all.

The world’s religions speak with one voice: life is a divine gift, never to be discarded in despair.

In Christianity, life is entrusted to us by God, who knows each soul by name. The Apostle Paul teaches, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit…? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” Christ’s message is clear: even the deepest suffering can be redeemed. Despair is not the final word. Resurrection is. The Christian tradition calls believers to perseverance, to faith in trial, and to the sacred responsibility of lifting up the brokenhearted.

In Islam, the Qur’an counsels: “Do not kill yourselves, for God is ever Merciful to you.” In Judaism, the sanctity of life is inviolable, for each soul is created in the image of God. Buddhism teaches that suicide disrupts the path to enlightenment, and instead invites us to transform suffering into wisdom. In Hinduism, the Bhagavad Gita affirms that surrendering despair and seeking union with the divine brings peace and liberation.

Beyond the Abrahamic, Dharmic, and Buddhist traditions, Indigenous worldviews also affirm the interconnectedness of life and spirit. In many cultures, suicide is seen not only as a personal wound, but as a disruption to the communal and ancestral fabric. Sikhism teaches the principle of Chardi Kala, relentless optimism, that inspires believers to overcome suffering through service and solidarity. Confucian ethics emphasize filial piety and duty to family and society, discouraging acts that sever the harmony of human bonds.

These sacred perspectives are not merely theological; they are lifelines. They remind us that even in darkness, there is light. Even in sorrow, there is purpose. Even in weakness, there is hope.

The Universal Peace Federation has long promoted the comparative study of moral and spiritual principles. Our project World Scripture, published in two volumes, brings together sacred texts from the world’s major religions to highlight their shared commitment to human dignity and moral responsibility.

On the subject of suicide, these traditions speak with a deep consensus: life must be preserved, nurtured, and protected - especially in times of suffering.

Our founders, Dr. Hak Ja Han and the late Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, taught that suicide is not only the loss of one life, but a rupture of the many relationships that sustain us, family, friends, ancestors, future generations, and even God. Rev. Moon reminded us: “Even the cosmos needs you. How can you think you are unimportant?”

The family must therefore be reaffirmed as the first school of emotional strength and spiritual purpose. It is within the family that love is learned, faith is nurtured, and the will to live is sustained. When families live for one another, no member is left behind.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 700,000 people die by suicide each year - one every 45 seconds. Behind every number is a story of pain unmet and help delayed. Yet evidence shows that compassionate interventions, such as open conversations, mental health education, spiritual counseling, and community support, can reduce risk. The message is clear, suicide is preventable, and every one of us has a role to play.

In this spirit, we call upon faith-based and civil society organizations to partner with suicide prevention networks such as the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), and to promote the visibility of helplines, crisis centers, and culturally competent mental health services. Schools, religious institutions, and governments must prioritize education that fosters emotional intelligence, trauma resilience, and ethical reflection. Let this day be not only one of remembrance, but also of action and commitment to change.

We call upon governments, educators, faith communities, and Ambassadors for Peace to invest deeply in character education and moral development. We call for a culture of presence, where no one suffers unseen, and no cry for help goes unheard.

We recognize that those affected by suicidal thoughts may also struggle with isolation, discrimination, poverty, grief, or trauma. To each of them we say: your life matters, not because of what you do, but because of who you are: a unique and irreplaceable member of the human family. If you feel forgotten, know that you are not. If you feel beyond hope, your story is not finished. If you doubt your worth, know that you are loved, needed, and infinitely precious. Wherever you are on your journey, there is help, healing, and hope. No one is beyond restoration. No one is alone.

Let us build a world where no one walks alone, where every life is cherished, and where peace begins not only among nations but in affirming the life before us. As one human family under God, may we extend our hands to those in pain and say: You are not alone. We are with you. And your life matters.

Dr. Tageldin Hamad

President, Universal Peace Federation

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Launched in 2001, Ambassadors for Peace is the largest and most dive rse network of peace leaders. As of 2020, there are more than 100,000 Ambassadors for Peace from 160 count ries who come from all walks of life representing many races, religions, nationalities, and cultures, and comm it to:

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