On this bonus episode from our friends at Slate's How To! podcast: As Kate’s teenage son, Sam, approached college she noticed him withdrawing. He wasn’t excited about his future and started to show symptoms of major depression. It came to a crisis point one summer night before Sam was set to leave for school. In the weeks and months that followed, Sam struggled to navigate the mental health system in search of care. And Kate? Kate was left wondering how she could help her son without being overbearing. On this episode of How To!, guest host Carvell Wallace brings on Dr. Christine Moutier, psychiatrist and the chief medical officer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She advises Kate and all of us on how to be appropriately supportive, especially when things get to a scary place. She also reveals how she coped when her own teenager experienced a mental health crisis. 

Resources:

If you or anyone you know is in crisis, dial 988 or text TALK to 741741. 

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

AFSP’s Real Conversation Guides

If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Stop Being Anxious” 

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