How should we memorialize someone who has died by suicide? To help answer that question, Brooke and Adam speak with Dr. Keita Franklin, a national leader in suicide.
Dr. Franklin shares why we should be memorializing someone who died by suicide in the same way as those who died by other means. It can feel uncomfortable to talk to person who has lost someone to suicide; however, Dr. Franklin notes the importance of hearing their story as a way to honor the loved one who has passed. Lastly, she highlights the "dos and don'ts" of how to have a conversation about a loved one who has died by suicide.

Do LGBTQ+ individuals have the same risk factors for suicide as the general population?Today we speak to Dr. Kate Comtois, a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Washington University, about LGBTQ+ community and its increased risk of suicide. She highlights the impact social media has had in creating a space where bullying is much more public and longer lasting than pre-social media days and how we can combat its effect.

Today’s episode addresses the myth, “If access to one method of suicide is restricted, will another method be used instead?”

Brooke and Adam speak to Dr. James C. West, host of the critically acclaimed podcast “Let’s Talk About Your Guns” a series that discusses gun safety by unpacking real-life scenarios. Listen in as Dr. West talks about the impulsivity around the act of suicide and why ready access to means matters. Lastly, we learn about the five principles of firearm storage and how you can start implementing them in your life today.

Dr. James C. West graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School in 2001 and the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia Psychiatry Residency Program in 2005. He currently serves as an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and a Scientist at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University of the Health Science. Prior to these assignments, he worked as a military psychiatrist and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as an Operational Stress Control and Readiness psychiatrist and later in leadership roles as the Deputy Commander of Behavioral Health at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Dr. West is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and has presented to the APA on numerous occasions on physician and patient conversations on firearm safety. In addition, he has participated in the forum on health and family firearm safety and created an online course for the APA on firearm safety.

https://www.cstsonline.org/suicide-prevention-program/podcasts/lets-talk-about-your-guns

On today’s episode, special guest host Dr. Joshua Morganstein talks to guest speaker Dr. Steven Dubovsky about managing intense moments. Dr. Dubovsky shares his experience as a firefighter/EMT to give us an inside look at how people working in high intensity jobs cope with stress. One key takeaway is that the firefighter community is a great example of showing up for people (both on and off the clock).

Today’s episode addresses the myth that “teens say they are suicidal to manipulate their parents and teachers.” While this may happen, a 2021 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration survey asked teenagers if they have had any suicidal thoughts in the last 30 days and an astonishing 3.3 million teenagers responded “Yes, I’ve had serious thoughts of suicide”.

Brooke and Adam, speak with Dr. Daid Jobes, former President of the American Association of Suicidology, about the reality of suicide and suicidal thoughts among children and teenagers and highlight what you can do as a parent, guardian, or caregiver, to help prevent it.

As a parent, you always want the best for your child; however, you can do everything seemingly right and still unfortunate events unfold. Today, Brooke and Adam speak with Mr. Dennis Ward, a Registered Nurse about his experience losing his son to suicide and what life looks like after losing a child to suicide.

A native Texan, Dennis joined the Air Force in 1994. Becoming a Fuels Technician, he spent several tours overseas including his first permanent party assignment at Incirlik AFB, Turkey. Later he transferred to F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming and had two subsequent deployments to Aviano AFB, Italy and Al Karj AFB, Saudi Arabia. Later transferring to Cannon AFB, New Mexico, Dennis completed his Air Force enlistment in 1999.

Following his enlistment in the Air Force, Dennis worked as an Emergency Medical Technician while completing his Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing in 2006. Following graduation he became a Commissioned Officer with the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS). Serving with multiple agencies as USPHS officer, Dennis has worked with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Indian Health Service, Department of Defense (U.S. Army), National Parks Service, and the Department of Veteran Affairs. Dennis completed his MBA-Healthcare Administration degree in 2016. Dennis has also worked extensively in emergency departments and in pre-hospital settings, with agencies outside of the federal government, as a Registered Nurse, Firefighter and paramedic.

Is it true that “All people who have thoughts of suicide, have a mental illness?” What about, “If you have suicidal thoughts once, you’ll always be suicidal?” Listen in to learn why the answer to both of these questions is “NO.”

Our guest today, Dr. Craig Bryan, a board-certified clinical psychologist in cognitive behavioral psychology, shares new research that points to suicidal thinking being highly dynamic and how these highs and lows can play a role in suicide prevention. While we would like to prevent/reduce all suicide attempts, the reality is that despite our best efforts some people will still attempt suicide. Maximizing safety in one’s environment is vital and taking steps in advance of a suicidal crisis to increase safety can be the difference between life and death.

Did you know that the time after a patient is discharged from the hospital, is one of the highest times for suicide death? Brooke and Adam speak with Dr. Julie Goldstein Grumet, the Director of the Zero Suicide Institute at the Education Development Center, about how this seemingly counter-intuitive occurrence could be reduced through strategic system changes within hospitals. Dr. Goldstein Grumet goes on to discuss how hospitals could better utilize evidence-based practices that already exist to improve their understanding of which patients are at greater risk for death, thereby increasing their ability to take actionable steps to keep those patients safe.

Are doctors or mental health professionals the only people allowed to ask someone if they are suicidal? On today’s episode, Brooke and Adam speak to Dr. Kelly Posner about how we often expect doctors and other healthcare professionals to ask the “difficult” questions when it comes to someone’s health, particularly around suicidal ideation. Dr. Posner explains how many people think if you, a non-healthcare professional, ask a friend or family member if they are having suicidal thoughts it will cause them to become suicidal; however, the reality is actually the opposite! Over 90% of suicidal incidents with some sort of intervention (such as asking if someone is suicidal) will never go on to try again. That one question could make all the difference.

Her full bio is here: https://cssrs.columbia.edu/about-the-project/the-director/

On today’s episode of Brain Hijack, we discuss the myth that “People who are thinking of suicide, always tell someone they are thinking of suicide.” Adam and Brooke speak with Dr. Matthew Nock, a Harvard professor whose research is aimed at advancing the understanding of why people behave in ways that are harmful to themselves, with an emphasis on suicide. Dr. Nock shares how the majority of people contemplating suicide, do not express it; however, as technology improves we are getting more data on people’s lives, building increasingly sophisticated models that may tell us when someone is at risk.

https://nocklab.fas.harvard.edu/people/matthew-k-nock-phd