Could Be Better, tbh (with Stacy London)

Let’s cut to the chase: Today’s episode is hard. Like, really hard. Because, we’re talking about suicide. According to The JED Foundation, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among young people. And it often seems like a big, overwhelming problem to solve.  In this episode, Stacy is talking to Dr. Jerry Reed, Senior Vice President at the Education Development Center and a recognized leader in the field of suicide prevention. He shares some of his critical research on suicide, the strides we’ve made in reducing suicide in the country, and what more needs to be done. Dr. Reed also talks to Stacy about the short window of intervention we have to help someone attempting to take their own life, and what we can say or do to give them another chance for tomorrow.  -- This podcast is brought to you by Crisis Text Line and The Jed Foundation (JED).  If you need support processing some of the show's difficult topics, please reach out for help by visiting www.crisistextline.org and www.jedfoundation.org. And, if you are in crisis, text PODCAST to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor. And, if you want to help people work through the challenges in life that could be better, tbh, visit www.crisistextline.org/volunteer to apply to become a Crisis Counselor.  Subscribe, rate and leave us a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/could-be-better-tbh-with-stacy-london/id1499941348 Follow us on IG: @crisistextline, @jedfoundation, @stacylondonreal

Aija Mayrock is a poet, writer and the bestselling author of “The Survival Guide to Bullying”. Aija faced nearly a decade of bullying in her formative childhood and teenage years due to her speech impediment. The relentless bullying at school eventually turned into cyberbullying, after a girl she didn’t know posted a photo of Aija that went viral. Aija received messages from people telling her to kill herself, as well as other horrific comments and attacks online. While she had to deal with anxiety and depression, Aija didn’t let her painful thoughts and experiences destroy her.  In this episode, Aija talks to Stacy about how she used poetry to share her pain, vulnerabilities, and happiness. They also talk about how Aija conquered the demons she had at 14 years old, as well as her biggest advice to young people when it comes to bullying and other things they might be struggling with.

It’s not everyday we get to hear from radical problem-solvers. Well, today, Stacy is speaking to two brilliant humans who are just that: Crisis Text Line founders Nancy Lublin (Chief Executive Officer) and Bob Filbin (Chief Technology Officer). Nancy and Bob saw things in the world that could be better, particularly crisis services, and acted on it with exceptional passion and commitment. Crisis Text Line, is a tech nonprofit that provides free, 24/7 support via text message which has processed over 130 million messages from people in crisis.

Nitika Chopra is a chronic illness advocate and is the founder of Chronicon, the first ever conference that works to elevate visibility for chronic illness patients. Diagnosed with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, Nitika’s illness left her overwhelmed with pain and insecurity.  Listen to Nitika share the steps she took towards self-compassion, why posting photos of her psoriasis was so monumental in her personal journey, and how she plans to continue inspiring people to thrive with a chronic illness.

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Clawdeena is a makeup and doll enthusiast who’s best known for her YouTube channel. With 488,000 subscribers and over 200 million views on her YouTube channel to date, Clawdeena has created an incredible community who watch and engage with her stop-motion videos and make-up tutorials. Clawdeena came out to her family when she was 13 years old and has dealt with mental health issues — at some point, even using self-harm to cope with her pain.

In this episode, Stacy chats with Clawdeena about how she is working through tough days — including moments of depression. Clawdeena also shares how empathizing with others has helped her become more self aware, and how her vulnerability (matched with her incredible talent) has made her YouTube community (with half a million subscribers to date) feel more empowered to share their own stories.

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Model and disability rights advocate Jillian Mercado saw what she wanted to do in the world — and fiercely went after it. She was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy in her teens, and grew up not seeing her community represented in the media and fashion industry.

On the podcast, Jillian shares her battle with depression during her teens and how googling “model in a wheelchair” eventually turned into a career in the fashion industry. She also talks to Stacy about the importance of using your platform to elevate your community — so people who are not “seen”, feel less alone.

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Today, we’re hearing from Oscar, Grammy, Tony and Golden Globe Award-winning songwriter Benj Pasek, who co-wrote the original score for the hit Broadway musical show “Dear Evan Hansen”. Benj’s work has transcended Broadway, and has helped fuel conversations about mental health and the importance of human connection.

In this episode, good friends Stacy and Benj talk about how we can be there for people going through mental health issues, how social media can be a tool for human connection, and the story behind one of Benj's songs (now a new book) “You Will Be Found”.

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Jameela Jamil is not one to shy away from speaking her truth — including her battle with an eating disorder when she was younger. Since working as a model, host and actress, Jameela has amassed a following and has used her platform to share her convictions around issues she cares deeply about such as self-image, bullying, and mental health.   In this episode, Jameela opens up about trying to take her own life years ago, how to fight the negative voice inside our heads, and what we can do to remove the shame in conversations around mental health.

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These days, actress Busy Philipps is widely known for her candid, conversational videos on Instagram. Since her teens, Busy has been in the entertainment business and has appeared in films and TV shows including Freaks and Geeks, Dawson’s Creek, Cougar Town and more recently, as host of her late night show, Busy Tonight. With 2M+ followers on social media, Busy found a place to create authentic connections and tell stories beyond the highlight reel, including her own struggles with mental health.

Talking about mental health is hard, but it doesn’t have to be a bummer. Crisis Text Line and The Jed Foundation (JED) want you to know that we’ve got your back and we’ll get through the hard sh*t (like depression, bullying, and self-harm) together. In this interview-style podcast about mental health, host Stacy London talks to celebrities and advocates who are using hope, kindness, and empathy to navigate life’s hardest situations. There are a lot of things in life that “Could Be Better, tbh." We're tackling the hardest parts of mental health and strategizing ways to make it better.