Since childhood, Clancy Martin has been preoccupied with, and even addicted to, the idea of suicide. A survivor of more than ten suicide attempts. Clancy has spent his life wrestling with questions like: where do these impulses come from? Why am I haunted by them? Why do I feel so much guilt? Can I be helped?

Clancy is a professor of philosophy at the University of Missouri — Kansas City, where he teaches existentialism, moral psychology, philosophy of the mind, and ethics. He is a Guggenheim Fellow and the author of more than ten books, most recently 2023’s How Not to Kill Yourself: A Portrait of the Suicidal Mind, in which he chronicles his struggles with suffering, substance use, and an obsession with self-destruction. At the same time, the book is a prescription of hope and an eloquent reminder of the interconnectedness of our lives. These are the issues we grapple with in this episode. 

Content warning: Due to the sensitive nature of the topic of suicide, this episode might be distressing for some listeners. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, in the United States, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by texting or calling 988, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For our international listeners, please refer to local resources in your country for support. 

In this episode, we discuss: 

3:53 - The importance of “speaking honorably” about suicide and removing the taboo surrounding the topic

9:23 - Applying the biopsychosocial model of illness to suicide 

13:29 - Clancy’s lifelong experience with suicidal ideation 

22:58 - Moving past our tendency to see suicidal ideation as a personal sin or failure. 

27:07 - Understanding the different reasons why a person would consider suicide 

35:54 - In Clancy’s view, what lies on the other side when one moves beyond a suicidal mindset 

44:42 - Clancy’s advice for how to cope if you are currently vulnerable to suicidal thoughts 

Clancy Martin is the author of How Not to Kill Yourself: A Portrait of the Suicidal Mind (2023).

In this episode, We discuss Clancy’s 2018 essay, I’m Still Here. 

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