Lighting the Path: The Simple Power of Connection

Meaningful connections can happen in simple, brief moments. This truth resonated deeply with me at the 2025 Georgia Suicide Prevention Conference, sponsored by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities.

Sitting in on a session with members of the team behind the S-Town Podcast, I was struck by a consistent theme throughout the conversations: the transformative power of human connection.

Throughout the conference, some participants voiced feeling pressured to do more with less, yet their commitment to ensuring people felt heard, seen, and respected never wavered.

In the SafeSide Framework, connection isn't just the starting point when supporting someone with suicide concerns—it continues throughout your interaction and extends into their lives beyond your care. But how do we create meaningful connections when time is limited and priorities compete?

One way is mini-interventions—small, evidence-informed actions that can make a big difference:

• Sit next to rather than across. Simply sitting beside someone rather than across from them can ease tension and encourage openness.
• When in doubt, tell the truth. When you’re uncertain about what to say, honesty works: "I'm not sure what to say right now, but I'm here and I care".

These brief moments of authentic connection serve as catalysts, illuminating paths toward hope and healing for those we serve. Connection doesn't require grand gestures or lengthy interactions—sometimes, the simplest actions shine the brightest light.

• Kristina Zurich, Lived Experience Faculty at SafeSide Prevention