09/02/2026
September is National Su***de Prevention Month, and this year, I’m choosing to use my voice and the Emerald Embers platform to help promote awareness because this is personal for me.
The fight is real.
Behind a smile, a successful career, a business, a family, or the image someone presents to the world, there can be battles that others never see. Mental and emotional struggles do not always announce themselves, and sometimes the people carrying the heaviest weight are the ones working hardest to appear strong.
This month, I want to encourage something simple but important: check on your people. Listen without judgment. Take someone seriously when they tell you they’re struggling. And remind them that asking for help is an act of strength.
For those we’ve lost, we remember you.
For those who are struggling, your story is still being written.
For the families, friends, and loved ones standing beside someone in the fight, keep showing up.
And for anyone fighting a battle today: you do not have to fight it alone.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or needs immediate emotional support in the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.
This year, I’m speaking up because awareness matters.
The fight is real. So is hope.
— Alfred Aviles
President
Emerald Embers Mobile Cigar Lounge
Luxury Elevated. Legacy Ignited.
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