SummaryIn this Conversation with Shloimie , Leigh Ioffe, the founder and director of Long Short Road (https://thelongshortroad.com), shares the raw story behind her mission to save lives. She breaks down what suicide really is - a desperate response to unbearable pain - and why empathy connection and presence matter more than anything. We dive into the hidden struggles teenagers and adults face behind closed doors and screens, how parents and schools can create safe spaces for honesty, and why every therapist needs real suicide prevention tools. Leigh also spotlights the warm line as a lifeline of hope reminding us that healing is possible and history is not destiny.Takeaways- Suicide affects all demographics, not just specific groups.- People often mask their pain, making it hard to identify struggles.- Suicidal ideation exists on a spectrum, from passive thoughts to active plans.- Empathy is crucial in supporting those who are struggling.- Parents must work on their own distress tolerance to support their children.- Social media can exacerbate feelings of isolation and inadequacy.- Schools need to create safe environments for students to disclose struggles.- Therapists should be educated on suicide prevention and crisis management.- The warm line provides a supportive resource for those in distress.- History is not destiny; recovery and healing are possible.titles- Breaking the Silence on Suicide Prevention- Understanding the Spectrum of Suicidal IdeationSound Bites"The journey is important.""We need to do better.""History is not destiny."Show Notes:- Helping the Suicidal Person by Stacey Freedenthal - Suicide Assessment and Treatment Planning: A Strengths-Based Approach, John Sommers-Flanagan - The Whole Brain Child Series by Dr. Daniel Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson (it's four books, which can be read independently or as a series)- Suicide in Schools: A Practitioner's Guide to Multi-level Prevention, Assessment, Intervention, and Postvention, by Dr. Jonathan Singer and Dr. Terri A. Erbacher- Pat Ogden--talks about "borrowing a person's nervous system"- A Drop of Light: www.preventfrumsuicide.org- Jonathan Haidt - The Anxious Generation- Rethinking Suicide by Craig J. Bryan