As an investigator as a member of the State Police, Brian Berkel saw firsthand the devastation of suicide in our community. Today, he's a part of a concerted effort to continue to remove the stigma that remains on this sensitive issue, open up the conversation, and save lives. Today, Brian is the president of the board of trustees for the Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention. Our conversation comes as the coalition has teamed up with the Berkshire International Film Festival and the Austen Riggs Center on this weekend's "Shine the Light" event with a screening and conversation about youth mental illness and suicide prevention at the Mawaiwe Performing Arts Center. In my conversation with Brian, we cover a great deal of ground on particular warning signs, risk factors and opening the conversation to help someone (or yourself) considering suicide, as well as: finding a space for the conversation, not putting off the conversation, removing the means for suicide, emotional and other changes as a red flag, veterans disproportionately impacted, Officer Doug Kingsley's walk across Massachusetts to raise suicide awareness, Kevin Hines and regretting a suicide attempt, what not to say to someone who may be at risk, and more.

I hope you'll enjoy my conversation with Brian Berkel.