Sally Spencer-Thomas is an award-winning speaker in mental health. After losing her brother Carson to suicide, in 2004, she focused her work as a psychologist to fighting the stigma surrounding suicide. 

In this interview, she tells her Carson's story, how it impacted her family, and how she dealt with her own mental illness, which was partially caused by the trauma of losing him.  Sally discusses how suicide affects first-responders, who often experience compassion fatigue, the importance of being open about our own struggles, and sends a powerful message to religious leaders regarding their approach to suicide.  

She has earned an international reputation as an entrepreneur and innovator in social change and has held leadership roles with the International Association of Suicide Prevention and the American Association of Suicidology. In 2016, she was invited to speak at the White House on men’s mental health.  

Her website https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/  

For more information on suicide, visit:  www.understandsuicide.com  

This watch this interview on my YouTube Channel "Understand Suicide"

https://youtu.be/V5rLKYnpskY 

My book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention" 

https://amzn.to/2ANczuR

John Nieuwenburg is an award-winning business coach from Canada with a supportive family and wife, but this is only one side of his story. For years, he hid from everyone his feelings of hopelessness, until his depression took its toll and he attempted suicide.  

In this interview, John told me that when he looks back, it's hard for him to recognize the man from that past, particularly the person who attempted suicide. "The last 5 years have been the best in my life. Off the charts great!"   

He also talks about the shame he felt for not being happy despite everything he had accomplished, the impact his Ted Talk had on his career and personal life, and his dedication to breaking the silence surrounding mental illness and suicide.  

Watch his Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STMp6w38k3g 

This interview can be watched on my YouTube Channel "Understand Suicide." 

https://youtu.be/Ro3iKJ301Tw

Donate to the podcast:

https://bit.ly/3maL9RO

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com

Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention"

https://amzn.to/2ANczuR

Contact me and exchange experiences on my Facebook page:

https://bit.ly/3h8sIet

Psychologist Dr. Patrick Corrigan has struggled with mental illness all his life and has dedicated his profession to fighting the discrimination experienced by those with psychiatric conditions. In this eye-opening interview, I asked him what we can do to help society fight the stigma associated with mental illnesses, which leads so many people to suicide. He said that contrary to general belief, education is just a small step; sometimes, it can make matter worse. The most effective way is to connect with others who have lived experience with mental illness. 

Dr. Patrick has dedicated his life to understanding what works and the misconceptions we have when combatting stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination against the mentally ill.  

If you want to watch this interview, visit my YouTube Channel "Understand Suicide."

Donate to the podcast:

https://bit.ly/3maL9RO

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com

Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention"

https://amzn.to/2ANczuR

Contact me and exchange experiences on my Facebook page:

https://bit.ly/3h8sIet

In this interview, Donna Schuurman talks about how to open up a dialogue about grief with children. She gives valuable tips on finding appropriate language, how kids express emotions, what to avoid, and ways in which families can come together after the loss of a loved one. She also discusses the peculiarities of suicide grief and the challenges that come with having to talk about this kind of death.  

Donna is the senior director of advocacy and training at The Dougy Center, in Portland/OR, a place where families receive free grief therapy and other services. For more information visit www.dougy.org. They also have a podcast called "Grief out loud."  

If you want to watch this interview, visit my YouTube Channel "Understand Suicide."

Donate to the podcast:

https://bit.ly/3maL9RO

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com

Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention"

https://amzn.to/2ANczuR

Contact me and exchange experiences on my Facebook page:

https://bit.ly/3h8sIet

For the past 3 years, Norine Vanderhooven has been the Chair of the Youth Suicide Prevention Committee of the American Association of Suicidology. As a clinical social worker, she has vast experience in treating trauma and suicide-related issues.  

In this interview, she helps parents understand the main factors associated with youth suicide, identify signs, and take action to protect their kids.  

You can watch this interview is available on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide"

Donate to the podcast:

https://bit.ly/3maL9RO

For more information on suicide visit www.understandsuicide.com 

My book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention" is available on Amazon.

Contact me and exchange experiences on my Facebook page:

https://bit.ly/3h8sIet

Suicide has a devastating impact on families, especially if blaming is present and the individual ways of grieving are not respected. In this conversation, I talk to my older sister Renata about the ways we see dad's suicide and our personal grieving processes. We go through some of the emotions both of us experienced (or not), such as sadness, anger, guilt, memory loss, and mental confusion, as well as the differences in our views. If you want to watch this interview, go to my Youtube channel "Understand Suicide." 

Donate to the podcast:

https://bit.ly/3maL9RO

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com

Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention"

https://amzn.to/2ANczuR

Contact me and exchange experiences on my Facebook page:

https://bit.ly/3h8sIet

If you have lost a loved one to suicide and would like to participate in an online support group, I am creating one, so if you are interested, go to my website www.understandsuicide.com and fill out the application on the main page.

It will take me at least a month to figure out all the details (day of the week and time) because my audience comes from almost 50 countries!! So it will be a challenge to set the perfect time for all the members. I will do my best to help as many as possible. As soon as the first group is complete, the following people will be put on a waiting list. The group will meet every other week for 6 months.

Send me the form and I will contact you for details. Thank you!

Brian Goff is a Clinical Psychologist with a private practice in Portland, OR. In this interview, he talks about the natural responses we experience when grieving, particularly when the death is by suicide.  We discuss emotions, society's expectations of what is "healthy," what differentiates suicide grief from other types of death, and ways to go through it in a more compassionate manner.

If you want to watch this interview, go to my Youtube channel "Understand Suicide."

If you want to support my work, buy me a coffee. This will help me keep bringing hope to those touched by suicide:  https://bit.ly/3whorPH

Donate to the podcast:

https://bit.ly/3maL9RO

More information on suicide at www.understandsuicide.com.

My book "Understanding Suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention" can be found on Amazon.

Heidi Lindman has struggled with suicidal ideation since her teenage years, but she has found a compassionate way to deal with them. In this interview, we talk about when these thoughts first came up, their impact on her life, and how she has developed a relationship with them. Heidi says that her recurrent ideation has taught her how to recognize and welcome emotions. Today, she works as a therapist in Broomfield/CO, helping others find alternatives to suicide, as well as to reframe their suicidal thoughts.

If you want to support my work, buy me a coffee. This will help me keep bringing hope to those touched by suicide:  https://bit.ly/3whorPH

Click to watch this interview, go to my Youtube channel "Understand Suicide."

Donate to the podcast:

https://bit.ly/3maL9RO

More information on suicide at www.understandsuicide.com.

My book "Understanding Suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention" can be found on Amazon.

Mariangela Abeo attempted suicide at the age of 17. Her brother helped her then. Years later, he took his own life. One of the ways she found to cope with the pain was by creating the project Faces of Fortitude. She travels the country photographing people who lost loved ones to suicide. In this interview, she shares what led her to a suicide attempt, the need we survivors have to break the silence surrounding this theme, and how her initiative has helped bring healing to those touched by voluntary death.

If you want to watch this interview, go to my Youtube channel "Understand Suicide."

Donate to the podcast:

https://bit.ly/3maL9RO

More information on suicide at www.understandsuicide.com.

My book "Understanding Suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention" can be found on Amazon.