Welcome to the Love Where You Are podcast! 

In today’s episode I am joined with Emma Benoit.

Today’s conversation is not easy but it isn’t something we can ignore, it is all around us and our teens: suicide. Why is this happening to our kids? How do we stop it? What are the warning signs? Emma speaks on this topic as a teen suicide survivor with an incredible story of God healing her from the inside out.                                                                    

Emma shares the factors surrounding the suicide attempt, how she was saved, physically and spiritually, and encourages us to break down the stigma of mental health, what people think it is and how damaging this stigma was to her. We need to be equipped with these tools from Emma. Let's begin the conversations with our kids, to know what they’re going through, how we can help, and remind them they are loved and have a life worth living. 

Thank you for being here today. Now, let's dive into the conversation! 

You can connect with Emma Benoit through Facebook, Instagram, and her website. 

Watch the trailer for Emma's documentary, My Ascension! You can screen it in your local community, click here. 

Resources:

Call 988 the free, anonymus suicide hotline if you feel suicidal thoughts. 

Nomi, a support services in mental health

You can find support groups on Facebook specific to your healing journey! 

 

FAVORITE TAKE-AWAYS:

*Bullying can lead to negative thoughts. Cyberbulling is a big problem today. Social media plays a large role in these issues of self esteem and portraying perfection. 

*Insecurities, negative self-talk, lies from the Enemy flood our teen's minds (even our own!) causing a constant need for validation and a sense of acceptance. Advice: challenge those lies! Challenge the negative self depricating thoughts. "I am ugly" into "I am beautifully made by God" defeat those lies with truth! 

*There is a huge stigma on menthal health. It was the main reason Emma did not seek help. She did not want to be labeled as problematic or attention seeking. 

 

REMEMBER:

*Figure out and know your kid's "base line" to help determine odd behaviors, out of the ordinary. Examples: too little sleep, sleeping in too much, not eating, eating too much, losing interest in passions. 

*Notice tone and manner changes

*Maintain an attitude of genuine concern, instead of becoming accusatory. 

*Remind your child: "You have a voice." Creating an environment of no judgement, love, and safety. 

*"Everything feels so permenant when you're young" Emma reminds us and our teens that the low points of life are not forever, things will and do get better! 

*You are not alone. There is hope and healing in Jesus. 

 

Connect with Somer! 

Stay connected to Somer and the Love Where You Are podcast through her Facebook & Instagram! Now, go love where you are and live on mission for Jesus today.