We ask it when we meet a colleague in the corridor, a friend over coffee, a family member at the end of a long day. And most of the time, the answer is automatic.

'I’m fine.'

'Good, thanks.'

'Just tired.'

And we move on.

But what if, sometimes, 'I’m fine' means something else?

What if behind the smile is someone who has not been sleeping? Someone who feels completely overwhelmed but does not know how to explain it? Someone who is struggling to get through the day but is afraid of becoming a burden to the people around them?

We often think we would recognise if someone we love was struggling. We imagine there would be obvious signs, a clear moment when we would know that something was seriously wrong.

But life is not always like that.

People can go to work, take their children to school, meet friends, answer messages and laugh at a joke while carrying an enormous amount of pain inside them.

And sometimes, that person might be us.

We don't always need the right words.

Talking about suicide can make us uncomfortable. We may be afraid of asking the wrong question. We may worry that bringing it up will make things worse. We may tell ourselves that someone else's problems are not our place to ask about.

But perhaps we have made it more complicated than it needs to be.

Perhaps it can start with something simple.

'You don't seem yourself lately. How are you really doing?'

And then, importantly, staying long enough to hear the answer.

We cannot solve another person's pain with one conversation. We cannot always make difficult circumstances disappear. But we can make someone feel less alone in them.

Sometimes, that matters more than we realise.

This is where services such as Supportline 179, operated by the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, play an important role.

When someone is overwhelmed, distressed or experiencing thoughts of suicide, knowing that there is somewhere they can turn can make the difference between remaining alone with those thoughts and taking the first step towards support.

Supportline 179 provides a safe and non-judgemental space where people can speak about what they are experiencing. Importantly, the service is not only for the person in crisis. A parent worried about their child, a friend concerned about someone they love, or anyone unsure about what to do can also reach out.

For some people, picking up the phone is difficult. This is why Supportline 179 also provides an online chat service, offering another way to reach out when talking feels too difficult.

Through Appoġġ and the wider Foundation for Social Welfare Services, support is provided to individuals and families experiencing a range of challenges. This work reminds us that mental wellbeing is deeply connected to our relationships, our families, our circumstances and the communities in which we live.

World Suicide Prevention Day is an opportunity to talk about suicide, but perhaps it is also an opportunity to think about ourselves.

About the last time someone told us they were struggling.

About the friend we have been meaning to call.

About the colleague who seems quieter than usual.

About the family member whose 'I’m fine' we accepted without asking again.

And perhaps even about ourselves.

When was the last time we stopped and asked ourselves honestly: 'How am I really doing?'

We do not need to wait for a crisis to reach out for help. We do not need to have the perfect words. And we do not need to be an expert to show someone that we care.

We can listen.

We can ask again.

We can stay.

And when we feel that what someone is experiencing is beyond what we can support ourselves, we can help them find professional support.

Because suicide prevention is not only about what happens when someone reaches their darkest moment. It is also about everything we do before to create a society where people feel seen, heard and supported.

So perhaps the next time someone tells you, 'I’m fine,' pause for a moment.

Look at them.

And ask again.

'Are you sure?'

You never know what that second question might make possible.

If you or someone you know needs support, call the supportline 179 or use the supportline chat, both services operated by the Foundation for Social Welfare Services. A conversation could be the first step towards getting help.