We continue our heartfelt conversation in part II of our chat with special guest, Dennis Gillan. Dennis has the unfortunate distinction of having lost two brothers to suicide over the span of eleven years. Though Dennis has known true hardship, one thing that sticks out when you speak with him is that he still holds on to great hope. Dennis mentions time and again that he “had to keep living.”  In order to keep going, he had to find a way to live through his pain and regain joy. 

Dennis shares some of the ways in which he has chosen to hold on to happiness, from creating his “Purple File” to making it a point to laugh daily. Such positive coping skills can become protective factors and improve our resilience. Technology has developed countless digital tools to help improve our mental wellness. Dr. Buser highly recommends some of them. Check out one of his favorites for when you’re feeling down in this week’s blog, “Finding Hope.”