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It could be said that suicide means that a person has given up hope…of things getting better, of problems going away.  In Episode 58: Losing Two Brothers to Suicide, Part II, our guest, Dennis Gillan, described the despair he felt after losing his two brothers to suicide and how he found hope again. In this blog we want to acquaint you with a tool we really like for times like these. It’s called a Hope

In Episode 57: Losing Two Brothers to Suicide, Part I, we learned of Dennis’s tragic experience. He lost not one, but two brothers to suicide. If one suicide has long-lasting effects on a family, we can easily imagine that a second would be even harder on the loved ones left behind.  It is commonly said that suicide can be contagious–that one suicide can lead to others.  In this blog we want to discuss what is

In episode 56: LGBTQ+ Youth & Suicide, Part II, we discuss how certain communities are doubly impacted for risk of suicide in the LGBTQ community. LGBTQ+ youth of color are at greater risk for suicide than their white peers. Additionally, youth from a lower socio-economic background are also at an elevated risk. Why is there greater risk for these groups? Historical Oppression Communities of color been heavily impacted by the effects of laws and systemic

In Episode 55: LGBTQ+ Youth & Suicide, Part I we discuss the elevated risk for suicide that many young LGBTQ+ individuals face. According to the Trevor Project in 2022 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide.  Of that group, transgender and non-binary youth are “2 to 2.5 times more likely to experience depressive symptoms and seriously consider suicide than their LGBQ cisgender peers”. That is a staggering and significant finding. If you are a parent

In Episode 54: Jay’s Journey, Part II, we continue our conversation with Jay Shifman, a storyteller who has made it his life’s mission to fight the stigma that surrounds mental health, especially at the intersection of suicide and addiction. For more on this in Jay’s own words, check out Jay’s TEDx talk: Shame Much of the model for treating those who suffer from addiction contains elements of blame and shame. “You should have thought harder