The One Promise You Have to Keep: Why Suicide Prevention Starts With “Stay”

There are a lot of words we build our lives around.

Grow. Win. Push. Achieve. Improve. More.

But there is one word we don't talk about nearly enough:

Stay.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. This week, Cardio Miracle is proud to sponsor the Promise2Live Global Livestream Gala in Hollywood—an event dedicated to suicide prevention, mental health awareness, and one remarkably simple idea:

One promise can save a life.

Promise2Live began after founder Brandy Vega nearly lost her 14-year-old daughter to suicide in 2021. Her daughter survived, and Brandy turned one of the most frightening experiences imaginable into a worldwide movement encouraging people to seek help when they need it, support others when they are struggling, and break the silence surrounding suicide.

That mission hits close to home for us at Cardio Miracle.

Sometimes the Most Important Thing We Can Do Is Ask

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention data cited in my recent broadcast on The Jason Hewlett Show, suicide-related deaths among males are four times higher than among females.

That statistic should make every one of us think about the men in our lives.

Your husband.

Your dad.

Your brother.

Your son.

Your friend who always says, "I'm fine."

Sometimes the person saying "I'm fine" the most is the person we need to sit beside the longest.

We men have our own strange language for saying we care.

"Text me when you land."

"How's the truck running?"

"You got enough fuel?"

Or perhaps the classic:

"The Broncos looked terrible Sunday."

Sometimes what we're really saying is, I've been thinking about you. I care about you. Are you doing okay?

Maybe this week we add the actual words:

Supporting the Body That Carries the Mind

At Cardio Miracle, we spend a lot of time talking about nitric oxide, circulation, cardiovascular health and blood flow.

And there is an important connection worth remembering: the brain is part of the body.

The brain requires healthy blood flow and oxygen delivery, and nitric oxide plays an important physiological role in regulating blood vessels and circulation. Research is also continuing to explore the complex relationship between nitric oxide pathways, stress, fear responses, anxiety, depression and PTSD.

But we passionately believe in supporting the health of the whole person—and even more importantly, supporting the person.

Sometimes that means nutrition and exercise.

Sometimes it means better cardiovascular health.

And sometimes it means putting down everything you're doing, sitting beside someone you love, and listening.

Keep the Promise

If someone comes to mind while you're reading this, don't wait.

Call them.

Text them.

Go see them.

Ask the harder question.

And if you are the person struggling today, please don't carry it alone.

There are thousands of promises we hope to keep during our lives.

But every one of them depends upon one first:

Because there are people who love you.

There are promises still waiting to be kept.

And your story isn't finished yet.