Julie Smith From The Sam Foundation joins us to talk about suicide awareness the prevention, risks, and healing form losing someone to this tragic event. Suicide, according to the CDC, is the most preventable death. In this conversation, we open up about our stories of suicidal ideation stemming from depression and domestic violence, and Julie shares the warning signs and programs they offer to bring educational training into communities, schools, and mental health professionals.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Reducing stigmas
• Julie's experience with mental illness
• How Julie's brother was the inspiration in creating The SAM Foundation
• Looking after the youth
• Jennifer's suicidal ideation experience
• Cultural shame and trauma guilt
• Suicidal people don't want to die, they want the pain to stop
• Suicide occurs when there is no hope left
• Programs and tools for people
• Recognizing the signs of suicide

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About Julie Smith

Julie Smith is the President and GA director for The SAM Foundation operating virtually, as well as in person in GA and AL. She along with her sister, Nicole Goggans, founded the organization in 2017 with the mission to prevent suicide through public awareness and education, in honor and memory of their brother Sam Johnson; because Suicide…Awareness… Means… Hope. The SAM Foundation has trained over 5000 individuals that include mental health professionals, teachers, students, school counselors, nurses, first responders and concerned community members in vital suicide prevention programs. The rapid growth of The SAM Foundation has been the result of the extreme need to combat suicide in our communities, which is a continual heartbreak.

Julie is committed to breaking the stigma of issues within mental health and becoming a resource for those affected by suicide. Julie knows the effects of extreme trauma first hand and is truly committed to learn how dealing with trauma may prevent other mental health issues and crises and will spread this awareness to others within her work in hopes of changing the stats of suicide in our nation and worldwide. Suicide has become a silent epidemic in which so many are unaware. Together with education, study, and awareness, change is possible, therefore hope is restored…

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