September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, a time when advocates, organizations, survivors, allies and communities come together to raise awareness and promote prevention.

In this episode, Dr. Jennifer R. Levin speaks with Bob O’Brien, who shares the story of his son Aidan, who died by suicide just over six months ago.

This conversation is being released on September 10, 2025 - World Suicide Prevention Day, during National Suicide Prevention Week. Together, we shine a light on suicide prevention, to reduce stigma, and encourage open dialogue about mental health and the devastating impact of suicide.

In This Episode:

Resources & Support

Talking about suicide is not easy, but every conversation matters. Reaching out for help is a sign of strength—and each of us has the power to make a difference.

Today I'm joined by Jana DeCristofaro, Advocacy and Education Manager at Dougy Center: The National Grief Center for Children and Families. For over 20 years, Jana has been a steady presence in the world of grief support, facilitating peer groups, developing trainings and resources, and hosting the highly respected podcast Grief Out Loud.

In this episode, Jana shares how she first entered the field of grief work through Dougy Center’s pioneering peer support model, and how that framework continues to shape the compassionate, non-prescriptive way she holds space for children, teens, and adults who are grieving.

We also explore:

This thoughtful, grounded conversation offers deep insight into what it means to support others through grief, and how grief, in turn, shapes us.

In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Levin is joined by grief specialist Erin Gaffney, who shares the personal story of losing her twin sister in a tragic accident 25 years ago. This life-altering loss not only shaped Erin’s own healing journey but also inspired her to support others through similar experiences. Today, she works with individuals grieving the death of a sibling, with a special focus on twin loss. Her personal experience with traumatic grief brings depth, compassion, and meaningful work with her clients.

Key takeaways:

You can reach out to Erin at [email protected] or learn more by visiting her website: www.mirarigriefcoaching.com.

To learn more about hope and guidance after sudden or unexpected death please visit therapyheals.com and to learn about my new book - The Traumatic Loss Workbook: powerful skills for navigating the grief caused by a sudden or unexpected death at www.therapyheals.com.

Today's interview is with Ed Santos, a business executive whose life was forever altered by the unexpected suicide of his daughter, Sabrina. Ed has contemplated sharing his personal journey to help others who may be facing similar challenges for some time. In this interview he opens up about his understanding of mental health before Sabrina's death, the immediate grief he experienced after her death, and how his coping process has evolved over the course of two years.

Ed shares his beliefs about grief, the role of therapy, and his reflections on the emotional complexities of losing a child. This conversation offers a raw, honest look at the unpredictable nature of traumatic grief and how the bond between a parent and child endures over time.

Key Takeaways:

Today's interview is with Sara Cobb, who begins her powerful story by sharing that she was born into traumatic grief. Sara explains that her older brother passed away less than a year before she was born, and she reflects on how this loss impacted her and her surviving sibling as they grew up.

Sara goes on to describe how grief shaped her family life, influenced her career choices, and contributed to a second devastating loss she endured later in life. Despite these challenges, Sara has developed an incredible resource to help others who are grieving similar losses. My Grief Connection has played a significant role in her healing and the healing of others also facing multiple losses.

Key Takeaways:

In today’s podcast I interview Susan Auerbach who shares the struggles her son Noah encountered before his suicide in 2013. Susan discusses the impact of Noah’s death on the different relationships in her life and how she coped with traumatic grief early after his death. Susan also reflects on the 11 years since his death and describes the different milestones that have occurred in her grieving process, and how her grief and her identity in grief has evolved over time.

Key Points:

If you are living with a loss like Susan’s you know time does not heal traumatic grief. But, as she described, time did provide clairity, perspective, and continues to move her towards healing. 

Susan worked hard to process her grief experiences. Her grief work included EMDR, writing, support groups, and learning what worked for her and what did not.

Although every grief experience is unique, I have interviewed many individuals living with long term traumatic grief, who are also able to attest to the continued evolution of their grief and how they have also experienced decreases in the intensity symptoms over time.

If you would like to reach out to Susan, please join our Facebook group Talking About the Podcast Untethered with Dr. Levin. We have included an article about EMDR which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy. There is also a link to Susan’s book, I Will Write Your Name on Every Beach: A Mother’s Quest for Comfort, Courage, and Clarity After Suicide Loss, and a link to her blog Walking the Mourner’s Path After a Child’s Suicide.

In today’s podcast I interview Scott and Brenda Ulinksi, whose son-in-law’s suicide deeply impacted and forever changed their family. This interview is one of the few times we have explored the impact of sudden death on the different generations of a family. We explore how Scott and Brenda supported their daughter, their grandchildren, and cared for their own grief after the suicide of their son-in-law. They share with us what it was like to interact with their son-in-law’s family, communicate about suicide within their own family, and how they rally around one another during grief.

Key Points:

Scott and Brenda describe how they are able to see identify signs of healing and growth, but the pain remains palable and raw as the family continues to live with Matt’s absence a little over a year from the day he took his life.

Scott and Brenda discuss how their grandchildren children continue to grow and even flourish.

Matt continues to live on in conversations and memories but these are not enough. Unanswered questions remain and the grief continues. His absence will always be felt.

This May, for Mental Health Awareness Month, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is providing guidance on how to connect someone who is hesistant to receive support. Their campaign, Talk Away The Dark, has educated people across the country on how to spot the warning signs for suicide and begin a conversation to let someone who needs support know about the resources that are available.

To learn more please visit asfp.org.

If you are in a crisis, call 988 or text “Talk” to 741741.

If you would like to see pictures of the Ulinski family, please join our Facebook group Talking About the Podcast Untethered with Dr. Levin.

In today’s podcast I interview Prudence Fenton, who experienced the unexpected death of her partner on Christmas Eve just prior to the beginning of COVID. Like most people who experience a sudden death, Prudence’s loss was a deeply personal, intimate and painful experience. Prudence’s loss was also a very public experience because her partner, Allee Willis, was a well known songwriter and artist. Together we explore Prudence’s grief experiences, her coping mechanisms and how grief has changed her. We talk about how she felt to have the public grieve her partner, what it was like to create her legacy, and where Prudence is in her life right now, four years later.

Key Points:

Prudence discusses how she relied on her creativity, taking a grief timeout when necessary, connecting with Allee, and receiving support from friends or trusted members of her team to get her through the difficult times.

Prudence describes where she is today with a group of new friends and the ability to experience happiness in her life. As she says, “the new Prudence just moves on”, but she always carries Allee with her. Prudence continues to learn and sees life as a constant form of education.

If you are interested in learning more about Prudence and Allee’s documentary, The World According to Allee Willis or the foundation Willis Wonderland please join our Facebook group, Talking about the podcast Unteathered with Dr. Levin.

In today’s podcast I interview Leslee Koritzke, who has been my best friend for over 15 years. Leslee shares with us what happened when her husband suddenly died over 14 years ago after playing basketball. We talk about what it was like for her to raise two young children and how she coped with the unexpected legal and financial stressors after his death. She also describes how her involvement in widow groups, fitness, and pottery helped her develop a long-term relationship with grief. Leslee reflects on what it has been like to watch her children grow, achieve important milestones without their father, and whether she thought her life would take it’s current shape.

It was a unique experience to interview Leslee, and I have been blessed to be part of her story long before Bob’s death.

Key Points:

Leslee discusses how she used her sense of humor to help get her through the hard times, while remaining true and authenic to feeling her emotions.

Like many who become single parents overnight, Leslee’s first priority was the needs of her children even though she had the additional stessors of unexpected circumstances that sometimes do not arise until after a loved has died.

Leslee prioritized the health and well-being of her kids and was committed to keeping family traditions and Bob’s memory alive. Her creativity, love for adventure, and continued love for her husband has been a continued theme throughout her life and contributed to her ability to move towards healing.

If you would like to reach out to Leslee, or if you are interested in learning more about her, please join our Facebook group - Talking about the podcast Untethered with Dr. Levin.

In today’s podcast I talk with Dan Baker, whose wife suddenly died on the day he retired from his career in law enforcement. As with all of my podcast participants, Dan’s experiences were powerful and unique. Having an extensive background in law enforcement, Dan provides us with valuable insight about what happens during the investigative process. He also invites us into to the difficult thoughts and emotions that he struggled with and continues to revisit three years after his wife’s death. I am so grateful he shared his perspective on the ins and outs of spousal grief support groups and the lasting relationships that can develop. The love Dan continues to have for his wife Cathy remains present and palpable.

Key Points:

During our interview we explore Dan’s struggle to cope with two major life stressors; the death of a spouse and retirement at the same time, and the impact it had on his identity.

We examine what it was like for Dan to live with the unanswered questions and uncertainty after his wife died.

Dan shares the experiences he had participating in a spousal grief group to help him cope and process his wife’s death and how he developed strong bonds and intimate friendships with a subgroup of members that he now considers to be part of his family.

If you would like to reach out to Dan, please join our Facebook group – Talking About the Podcast Untethered with Dr. Levin.