The Suicide Prevention Lady Podcast

Drs. Rikki Turner and Arrayon Farlough-Rollins continue their conversation that explores how being an ally to the Black community (and to any marginalized group) is suicide prevention.

From generational trauma and systemic racism to the everyday toll of microaggressions, we unpack why mental health advocacy must include racial justice work. Rikki and Arrayon share personal reflections and invite listeners to dig deeper: because allyship isn’t a one-time post. It’s a lifelong, lifesaving practice.

👇 Want to learn more about the Black experience in America and how to show up better? Start here:

📚 Resources Mentioned:

1. The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
   👉 A must-read on the history of redlining and government-sanctioned segregation in housing.
   https://a.co/d/4LwpN4D

2. The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
   👉 Pulitzer Prize-winning narrative about the Great Migration and the resilience of Black families.
   https://a.co/d/iSRkDCm

3. Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
   👉 A 28-day guided journal for confronting privilege and engaging in real allyship.
   https://a.co/d/i2w7Rfn

4. Code Switch (Podcast by NPR)
   👉 Weekly stories about race, identity, and culture that hit where it hurts—and heals.
   https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/484785516/the-code-switch-podcast

5. You Are Your Best Thing (Podcast episode featuring Tarana Burke & Jason Reynolds)
   👉 A powerful conversation on Black vulnerability, resilience, and emotional truth.
   https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-with-tarana-burke-and-jason-reynolds-on-you-are-your-best-thing/
   

If you are looking for a candid conversation that is unapologetic about how racism and how it intersects with suicide, look no further. In this episode, Dr. Rikki Turner sits down with Dr. Arrayon Farlough-Rollins to discuss what it is like to be a black woman in America, the importance of Juneteenth, and how microaggressions wear on the Black community.

If you are a person of color, this conversation is cathartic.

If you are a white person, this conversation is pointed yet loving, and invites you into insight you didn't know you needed.

In this episode of The Suicide Prevention Lady Podcast, Dr. Rikki Turner sits down with Sharon Downs, a lifelong advocate for mental health and LGBTQ+ equity, to unpack what it means to be an ally.

This is an episode about holding space for ourselves, for others, and for the things we were told not to say out loud.

If you would like to have Sharon come speak or train with you, contact her at [email protected] and mention you heard her on this podcast.

What really happens when someone is in mental health crisis? In this episode, Dr. Rikki Turner (The Suicide Prevention Lady) sits down with Justin Laffoon, MSW, LCSW—Director of Clinical Services at The BridgeWay—to talk about the gaps, the wins, and the humanity behind crisis intervention.

From safety planning to showing up when it’s hard, this episode is filled with tangible insights for helpers, loved ones, and those navigating the system themselves. Justin shares what he wishes everyone knew about suicide prevention, how 988 is being used (and misunderstood), and the power of just being present.

If you’ve ever wondered what to do or say when someone you love is struggling—or if you’ve been there yourself—this one’s for you.

Topics include:
• What NOT to say during a crisis
• How 988 is working behind the scenes
• Why hospitalizations aren’t always the solution
• What to say when you don’t know what to say
• Why your support matters more than you think

🎧 Subscribe, share, and leave a review to keep these conversations going.
📲 Learn more at www.stillyourise.com

Volunteer for The Trevor Project at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/volunteer/

In this episode, Dr. Rikki Turner shares practical insights on assembling a care package for someone navigating depression. From basic hygiene items to easy-to-consume snacks, discover thoughtful inclusions that can make daily tasks more manageable and convey genuine support. Whether it's clinical depression, seasonal affective disorder, or situational grief, these small gestures can offer significant comfort.

Mental Health Positive Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6eEiss2Sj7brXSwGpZXg5i?si=5e748caefece4dca

In this raw and powerful episode, Dr. Rikki Turner sits down with author and speaker Rachel Fox to talk about a condition that affects 1 in 12 women but is wildly misunderstood: PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder). Rachel shares her 25-year journey of being undiagnosed, the rage that nearly ended her relationship, and the radical healing that came from one desperate Google search: "rage before period."

They talk about what PMDD really looks like, why it’s so often misdiagnosed, and how Rachel’s work with Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) helped her find peace, restore relationships, and change the course of her life.

If you’ve ever felt like a different version of yourself every month—or loved someone who does—this episode is required listening.

🔗 Learn more about Rachel and grab her book:
From Cursed to Cured: How to Treat and Cure PMDD Naturally
👉 https://www.rachelfoxcoaching.com

We’re back with Part 2 of my conversation with writer and author Jen Butler, and if you thought the first half was powerful—buckle up. In this episode, we go deeper into what healing actually looks like when you’ve spent years surviving by shutting down. We talk about the quiet rage of sensitive people, what happens when emotions finally demand to be felt, and how Jen’s book became the thing she needed but could never find.

This is for the ones who’ve been holding it all together for too long. The ones who can laugh through tears and still know they’ve got work to do. The ones who want to believe healing is possible—even if it’s messy and loud and weird.

Topics we cover:

• The emotional whiplash of recovery

• How trauma sneaks into adult relationships

• Learning to take up space as a sensitive person

• The power of naming your pain—and then rewriting the script

▶️ Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who feels big and loves hard. You’re not alone, and you’re not broken.

https://www.jenbutlersays.com/books-1

What happens when you're the helper but you're the one breaking?
In this raw and unfiltered episode of The Suicide Prevention Lady Podcast, Dr. Rikki Turner sits down with writer, comedian, author, and fellow highly sensitive person Jen Butler to talk about what it really feels like to be a deeply sensitive person in an overwhelming world.

Jen shares her personal story of trauma, her internal battles with suicidal thoughts, and the invisible toll of constantly holding it together for everyone else. It’s a vulnerable conversation that pulls back the curtain on what’s often left unsaid even by mental health professionals.

Topics in Part 1 include:

• Growing up in survival mode

• Suicidality masked by achievement

• The danger of compartmentalizing big feelings

• Why sensitivity is not a weakness

This is Part 1 of a two-part series. If you’ve ever felt like you were “too much,” or like the strong one who’s silently drowning, this episode is for you.

👀 Come back next week for Part 2, where we dig into healing, hope, and how Jen’s book came to life.

Follow Jen on all major platforms @jenbutlersays

Grab Jen's Book: Volume Control (a guidebook for highly sensitive people in a loud & spiky world) Amazon: https://a.co/d/ja2Ok6d

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/volume-control-jen-butler/1146472254?ean=9781735635002

eBook: https://books2read.com/volumecontroljenbutler

Is it burnout—or just Tuesday?

In this episode of The Suicide Prevention Lady Podcast, Dr. Rikki Turner sits down with burnout recovery coach and author Dr. Kate Steiner to break down what burnout really is, why it’s not a personal failure, and how to recover without selling your house and fleeing to the woods. From recognizing the early signs of burnout to navigating recovery with humor and humanity, this episode is for anyone who’s ever felt crispy, overwhelmed, or totally tapped out.

Topics we cover:

• The real signs of burnout (hint: it’s not just being tired)

• Why typical advice like “go rest” isn’t enough

• How burnout connects to mental health, chronic pain, and even suicidality

• Burnout recovery plans that actually work

• Why “just keep going” is sometimes the worst advice

🎧 Whether you're a student, professional, caretaker, or recovering people-pleaser—this one's for you.

📚 Learn more about Dr. Kate Steiner’s work and her book Feeling Crispy: A Guide for Burnout Recovery
https://www.liftwellnessconsulting.com
@drkatesteiner

In this powerful solo episode of The Suicide Prevention Lady Podcast, Dr. Rikki Turner gets real about what it’s like to survive emotionally in today’s chaotic world.

From political attacks on marginalized groups to the nonstop noise of the news cycle, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, helpless, or just plain worn out. But you’re not powerless—and you’re definitely not alone.

Rikki shares 10 tangible things you can do right now: 5 ways to protect your own mental health and 5 ways to stand up for others without burning yourself out in the process.

You’ll learn:

• How to set boundaries with media without checking out completely

• Small daily rituals that protect your peace

• How to support friends and communities being targeted without performative activism

• Why doing something small matters more than doing everything perfectly

Because we can’t fix the world by ourselves—but we can make our corner of it safer, softer, and stronger.

🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode—and share this one with someone who could use a little hope today.