This is basic numeracy. Looking at several instances of something and asking "Is that a lot?" It was many more suicides than you have seen on an average day but it may be a surprisingly small number given the situation. Percentage is a tool to help you ask "did the many incidents I heard about represent what most people there experienced, or not?"

I should've have had "this is a symbolism for how wonderful human beings are" at the start

These were my exact thoughts. Even in a tragedy, most people tried their hardest until the very end.