Leaving The Valley

A person who is contemplating suicide needs care, connection, and oversight. Sometimes this is more than can be provided within the home, and that's where hospitalization comes into play. However, many of us have outdated ideas of what being hospitalized might look like--we're imagining people in white coats, keeping you against your will. The reality is very different. Let's talk about what it's actually like to be hospitalized. What's the difference between voluntary and involuntary hospitalization? Does insurance cover hospitalization? How long is someone in there? What's the average day like? Kimi and Sam explore all this and more.

Not every therapist is trained on how to help someone with suicidal thoughts. Some lack experience in how to intervene with thoughts of suicide, and some may feel overwhelmed with fear that a patient's life may be in danger. If you're further down "The Ramp," you need to be working with someone who is an expert on suicide prevention. Unfortunately, most people are in denial about how dangerous thoughts of suicide are. We'll cover how to find the right therapist, asking for referrals, confidentiality, and how culture comes into play in finding a good fit for a therapist.

Is there a pill you can take that will make your thoughts of suicide disappear? No. But are there medications that can help? Maybe. We'll discuss if someone with thoughts of suicide should be on a drug, like an antidepressant, what the pros and cons are, what the benefits might be, and where to get psychiatric medicines.

There's a connection between what treatment for suicide looks like and how far down "the ramp" you are. We'll discuss the variety of options out there including counseling, medications, and hospitalization. We'll also discuss what should be on a suicide safety plan and cover specific information for groups that are more vulnerable to thoughts of suicide.

COVID-19 and the economic global crisis will likely lead to a rise in suicide attempts. Historically, suicide has increased during times of upheaval caused by economic instability or health epidemics. Kimi and Sam discuss how past historical crises can inform our understanding of COVID-19 and the current economic fallout, offer strategies to prepare us for the mental health challenges ahead, and provide targeted information for those groups most likely to become suicidal.

COVID-19 has turned our world upside down. It's okay to feel anxious, scared, or overwhelmed right now. Kimi and Sam talk about ways to manage during this hardship by acknowledging the reality, working on acceptance, focusing on the positive, and suggesting strategies for coping with the down days.

Most people who have thoughts of suicide mention it to at least one person. This is our chance to intervene, but most of us don't know what to say or are sometimes too afraid to ask the right questions. We'll walk you through ways to encourage your loved one to reach out for help and give tips to connect you to the relevant resources.

Whether you are in absolute crisis mode, having some dark thoughts, or know somebody who is in need of help, Kimi and Sam explain the slide down "The Ramp" into the "Valley of Suicide." There's useful info for people ranging from those who find themselves thinking "sometimes I wish I wouldn't wake up" to those who are all the way to making an active plan. If you've had thoughts of suicide, take them seriously. Ask for help. We discuss where, how, and when it's time to get help and even ideas for low cost options in your community.

What if we all knew a little more about suicide? What if it weren't so hard to just talk about it? Join Kimi Buser-Clancy, an actor, writer, and optimist, and her dad, Dr. Sam Buser, a psychologist and expert on suicide and its treatment, as they try to unpack the difficult subject of what YOU should know about suicide in a conversational format that is informative, warm, and sometimes even humorous.