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Understand Suicide

Understand Suicide

By Paula Fontenelle

Become a Paid Subscriber: https://anchor.fmpaula-fontenelle/subscribe Here we will create a safe community to fight the stigma surrounding suicide. I will interview specialists, survivors, and individuals who have a story to tell. We will cover a variety of themes: grief, warning signs, risk factors, contagion, youth, and most importantly, what can be done to prevent suicide. To contact me, send a message to pfontenelletherapist@gmail.com Visit my page: www.understandsuicide.com Facebook Page: https://bit.ly/2MMLBWO
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Need an online suicide loss support group?

Understand SuicideFeb 02, 2024

00:00
02:13
Need an online suicide loss support group?

Need an online suicide loss support group?

Are you looking for an online Suicide loss support group?
We all know how heartbreaking this kind of loss is, and how we tend to isolate ourselves because we believe nobody will either listen to us or understand what we're going through.
That’s when a support group can be a source of comfort, familiarity, and compassion, no matter where you are in your grief journey. And you might just find some peace in knowing you're not alone.
So why not give it a try? You never know how much it could help until you take that first step. The one thing I can guarantee you is that I will offer a warm, safe, and nurturing space, as provided here on my podcast.
The group meets every second Tuesday of the month, on Zoom. Join the March meeting, February is full. We have a limit of 12 participants.
REGISTER HERE: https://t.ly/7gUed
Paula
Feb 02, 202402:13
Ep. 111 - He lost his mother at age seven | Dr. Richard Brockman
Jan 25, 202451:56
Ep. 110 - Two sisters grieving their mother's suicide | Kristyna and Veronika

Ep. 110 - Two sisters grieving their mother's suicide | Kristyna and Veronika

Nov 14, 202354:15
Accepting new clients

Accepting new clients

From time to time, some of my listeners contacted me for therapy but in the past, I have not been able to accept new clients due to a lengthy waiting list. That has recently changed because I just opened my own practice, so I am taking new patients and have a few available spots.

If you are searching for a therapist and you live in Oregon, in the US, contact me. I give a free 15-minute consultation so that we can see if we are a good fit.

I'm not taking insurance at the moment.

My phone number: 971 2361388

Email: paula@flourishingmindscorp.com


Have a great day.

Sep 22, 202301:05
Ep. 109 - Spirituality as a path to healing | Suzanne Anderson

Ep. 109 - Spirituality as a path to healing | Suzanne Anderson

Suzanne Anderson lost her husband David to suicide and with it, her life as she knew it. As it happens in many cases, after his death, she found out secrets he kept from her, so she had to rebuild not only her life but her internal experience of what they had shared and built together. In this interview, she shares her path and how her spiritual beliefs helped her through it. Suzanne is the author of the book “You Make Your Path By Walking”, which accompanies readers on their own journeys through the barren landscape of trauma and grief, offering comfort, guidance, and inspiration to make meaning out of loss. Whether you are going through a personal dark night or struggling with these uncertain and disruptive global times, this book offers a proven pathway to allow the breaking down to be the breaking open into a whole new way of living, loving, and leading.    Drawing from her years of exploration into the development of human potential and the personal, shattering journey of loss, Suzanne guides you to make your own path through the darkest of times—and to become a light in the world that others can look to in their own times of need. Find her book: https://mysterialwoman.com/you-make-your-path-by-walking/ Enroll for her next Resilience Circle: https://mysterialwoman.com/equinox-resilience-circle/ Contact Suzanne Anderson: https://mysterialwoman.com/

Are you looking for an online suicide loss support group? Join mine. See details here: ⁠⁠https://t.ly/qcCC9⁠

Find my book "Understanding Suicide: Living with loss, paths to prevention:” https://amzn.to/3QYe0II Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people." https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://rb.gy/0emdk Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com  If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org Phone: 988


Sep 19, 202301:06:15
Ep. 108 - Long COVID & suicide: a growing concern | Dr. Jim Jackson
Aug 24, 202343:49
Ep. 107 - He is a murder-suicide loss survivor | Michael
Jun 28, 202301:06:44
Ep. 106 - Losing a husband to suicide | Alexandra Wyman
May 22, 202344:55
Ep. 105 - Reducing social isolation in older adults | Laura Shannonhouse
Apr 22, 202323:11
Ep. 104 - Where are we in field of suicidology? | Leeann Sherman
Apr 21, 202327:05
Ep. 103 - Grief and soul exhaustion | Sarah Gaer
Apr 20, 202327:37
Ep. 102 - Recognizing and responding to suicidal patients | Dr. Robert Canning

Ep. 102 - Recognizing and responding to suicidal patients | Dr. Robert Canning

Dr. Robert Canning is a clinical psychologist who specializes in treating suicidal patients. In this interview, he talks about the skills we clinicians need to learn in order to assess and treat this population. This interview is part of a series that covers the American Association of Suicidology's conference, which is taking place in Portland, Oregon, throughout this week.

I will be posting daily interviews and tomorrow, I will attend the Healing after Suicide Loss Summit.

Check the agenda of the conference here:

https://bit.ly/3mAuEEq

Find my book "Understanding Suicide: Living with Loss, paths to Prevention:”

https://amzn.to/3XyxQwR

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com 

Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people."

https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Phone: 800-273-8255


Apr 19, 202324:36
Daily interviews this week during the American Association of Suicidology's Conference
Apr 17, 202309:48
Ep. 101 - A secret too heavy to carry | Marie Beckley
Apr 05, 202348:04
Ep. 100 - A special guest for the 100th episode | Dr. Kirk Honda
Mar 03, 202301:45:10
Ep. 99 - My grief journey | Interview to Georgena Grace
Feb 14, 202353:00
A request

A request

This is a quick request: Could you please go to YouTube and subscribe to my channel? It’s called Understand Suicide. This way I can maybe monetize the channel and pay someone to edit the videos and audios. It would mean a lot to me and I would be able to do more interviews. As you know, I don’t have ads, sponsors, or Patreon, because I just never found anything that would be suitable due to the topic that I cover. Thank you so much.
Feb 09, 202301:35
Ep. 98 - A psychiatrist who fights the system | Dr. Aruna Tummala

Ep. 98 - A psychiatrist who fights the system | Dr. Aruna Tummala

When Dr. Aruna Tummala, MD, came to the United States, she quickly learned that being a doctor here meant something quite different from her experience in India, her country of origin. One of the first things she was told at the University was never to touch her patients, which was quite shocking to her. She looks at the patient in a holistic manner and avoids conventional medication, particularly when the patient comes in with psychiatric issues.

In this interview, Dr. Tummala shares her wisdom and approach to medicine. One of the things she said was that the three root causes of any disease are: a bad diet, trauma (physical and mental), and toxins. That is where she focuses her attention. According to Dr. Tummala, only 1% to 2% of her patients take psychotropic medication.

Dr. Tummala is a board-certified adult and geriatric psychiatrist and founder of Trinergy Health in New Berlin, Wisconsin. She is also board certified in Integrative and Holistic Medicine (by the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine) and has received training in Functional Medicine and Ayurveda, the oldest medical system in the world.

Inspired by the realization that conventional psychiatry has become a linear, medication-dependent, symptoms-based model with little to offer the millions of people struggling with mental illness, Dr. Tummala turned to Integrative Psychiatry, fully embracing its patient-centered, collaborative care approach.

Watch this interview on my YouTube channel:

https://bit.ly/3Jy8DPG

Find Dr. Tummala Aruna:

https://bit.ly/3Jyw2jV

Dr. Tummala’s resources:

https://bit.ly/3RrO49z

If you want to support my channel, buy me a coffee.

https://bit.ly/3whorPH

Find my book "Understanding Suicide: Living with loss, paths to prevention:”

https://amzn.to/3DA3pz7

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com 

Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people."

https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Phone: 800-273-8255

Feb 02, 202355:28
Ep. 97 - Loving someone with suicidal thoughts | Stacey Freedenthal

Ep. 97 - Loving someone with suicidal thoughts | Stacey Freedenthal

In this episode, I talk to Stacey Freedenthal, who just came out with a wonderful new book entitled "Loving Someone with Suicidal Thoughts: What Family, Friends, and Partners Can Say and Do.” I’m sure this will be tremendously helpful to those who have loved ones struggling with suicidal thoughts and ideation.

Watch this interview on my YouTube Channel:

https://bit.ly/3whWdn6

Find Stacey’s book and take advantage of the promotion in January:

https://bit.ly/3QN3bKk

Find the book on Amazon:

https://amzn.to/3QLCHJm

Check Stacey’s website:

https://staceyfreedenthal.com/


Are you looking for an online suicide loss support group? Join mine. See details here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://t.ly/qcCC9⁠⁠⁠⁠


If you want to support my channel, buy me a coffee.

https://bit.ly/3whorPH

Find my book "Understanding Suicide: Living with loss, paths to prevention:”

https://amzn.to/3QSyiEn

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com 

Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people."

https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Phone: 800-273-8255

Jan 18, 202350:55
Ep. 96 - Dealing with the holidays | Dr. Doreen Marshall
Dec 14, 202221:42
Ep. 95 - He lost two sons within a year | Major Gen. Mark Graham
Nov 22, 202259:28
100th episode reminder
Oct 20, 202200:53
Help me create episode 100!

Help me create episode 100!

We are reaching the 100th episode and instead of interviewing someone, you get to ask ME questions. Please send an audio recording with questions or maybe let me know how my podcast has touched your life. It would mean the world to me.

The questions can be about the podcast (curiosities, specific interviews, etc), my life, the making of the podcast, or anything you want. 

Send it to the email understandsuicide@gmail.com. 

It can be audio or just a regular email. Please let me know if you want your name to be revealed.

The deadline is October 20th.

Thank you for participating, it's your chance to be part of this journey.

Paula

Sep 26, 202203:02
Ep. 94 - The "S" Word, stories of attempt survivors | Lisa Klein

Ep. 94 - The "S" Word, stories of attempt survivors | Lisa Klein

When Lisa Klein was 18 years old, she had already lost her father and brother to suicide, and as it often happens, she felt that their deaths had to be related to who she was: “My thought was that it was a reflection on me, that I wasn’t good enough” she says. Her family shut down, suicide was not discussed. “We couldn’t talk about it and I had so many questions.”

Years later, she started talking to loss survivors with the intent of producing a film about it. During the interviews, Lisa got in touch with people who had attempted suicide and decided that sharing their stories would be more beneficial. “I wanted to talk to people about being on the edge and what brought them back.” The result is a great documentary called “The S Word.”

In this interview, the film director Lisa Klein shares some of the beautiful stories portrayed in the film and how it helped her understand her brother and father’s suicide.


Are you looking for an online suicide loss support group? Join mine. See details here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://t.ly/qcCC9⁠⁠⁠⁠


If you want to support my channel, buy me a coffee.

https://bit.ly/3whorPH

Learn about the film “The S Word:”

https://bit.ly/3dLtDoO

Find my book "Understanding Suicide: Living with loss, paths to prevention:”

https://amzn.to/3QYe0II

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com 

Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people."

https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Phone: 800-273-8255

Sep 26, 202245:36
Ep. 93 - Scattering CJ's ashes | Hallie Twomey and Ethan Oser

Ep. 93 - Scattering CJ's ashes | Hallie Twomey and Ethan Oser

Sep 08, 202241:31
Ep. 92 - Understanding bipolar disorder | Terri Cheney

Ep. 92 - Understanding bipolar disorder | Terri Cheney

The bestseller author Terri Cheney has struggled with bipolar disorder since childhood. In this amazing interview, she talks about decades of multiple misdiagnoses, which took a toll on her life and stopped her from receiving proper treatment, and her suicide attempts.

One of the things I love about this conversation was her openness to sharing not only her grounded knowledge of the disease but also how destructive it has been on her relationships.

For those who have to live through the challenges of bipolar disorder, Terri gives helpful tips on how to keep themselves safe when the disease is shouting “just do it.” The other interesting aspect of this interview is her ability to cross the road to the other side of bipolar disease and compassionately relate to the people who are in relationships with someone who has the condition.

Some of the questions she answers are:

What is the difference between hypomania and mania?

What about bipolar one and two?

Why are bipolar patients so often misdiagnosed with depression?

Terry has been through it all but today she has found ways to live a full life. Better yet, she has decided to join us in the fight against the stigma that comes with mental illnesses.

“Being able to put a name on my cluster of symptoms was such a turning point in my life because the first time in my life I didn’t feel guilty about my rather extreme thoughts and behavior. It also allowed me to get the kind of treatment I needed.”

If you want to support my channel, buy me a coffee.

https://bit.ly/3whorPH

Find the book on Amazon, where I have an affiliate account. This means that I get a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you. It’s a way to support my work:

- Manic, a memoir: https://amzn.to/3Cqexie

- Modern Madness: An Owner's Manual - https://amzn.to/3cmNWbf

- The Dark Side of Innocence (Growing up Bipolar) - https://amzn.to/3R6VwFW

Find Terri Cheney on Psychology Today - https://bit.ly/3QJJiTz

Find my book "Understanding Suicide: Living with loss, paths to prevention:”

https://amzn.to/3QYe0II

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com 

Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people."

https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Phone: 800-273-8255

Aug 23, 202250:05
Ep. 91 - Sleep, mental health, and suicide - Nikolaj Høier

Ep. 91 - Sleep, mental health, and suicide - Nikolaj Høier

Aug 05, 202250:32
Ep. 90 - Parents dealing with suicide loss | Kellie Woolf
Jul 12, 202248:08
Ep. 89 - Her son struggled with addiction, then died of suicide | Linda Morrison

Ep. 89 - Her son struggled with addiction, then died of suicide | Linda Morrison

Linda’s son, Mike, died of suicide in 2012 after years of struggling with addiction. As it’s often the case, his painful path affected the whole family, particularly the way they related to one another. Together, the family had to find a way to support Mike but also keep themselves healthy:

"Ultimately, we came to understand that this was Mike’s problem and he needed to learn how to manage it. We identified what was our responsibility and what was his. I came away with one outstanding insight: I was just as “addicted” to Mike as he was to heroin. We came to understand it is a family disease because everyone in the family is affected by it.”

Linda wrote about the family’s journey. Her book, “Dear Heroin: a memoir of goodness,” can be found here:

https://www.dearheroinbook.com/


Are you looking for an online suicide loss support group? Join mine. See details here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://t.ly/qcCC9⁠⁠⁠⁠


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

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com 

Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people." https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n

Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:” https://amzn.to/2ANczuR

Read my blog on Psychology Today: https://bit.ly/2Y9WdID

Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone: 

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Phone: 800-273-8255

Jun 23, 202258:55
Ep. 88 - Mother and daughter share their loss | Jeanne and Thea

Ep. 88 - Mother and daughter share their loss | Jeanne and Thea

May 17, 202247:20
Ep. 87 - Healing through service | Sgt Q

Ep. 87 - Healing through service | Sgt Q

After coming back from deployment to Iraq, Aaron Quinonez struggled with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, but felt unsupported by the Veterans Administration. One of the questions he would ask himself was “Who am I now past this trauma? I had to understand that the person I was before didn’t exist anymore,” he shared.

At the height of his helplessness, the thought of suicide crossed his mind, but something unexpected happened on the day he planned to take his life. Sitting in the car, he would watch kids playing in the playground and kept waiting for them to leave: “I didn’t want to inflict trauma on them,” but then, he fell asleep, and when he woke up, everything had changed.

His interview is a beautiful example of resilience, compassion, and a reminder that there is always a chance to turn one’s life around. Today, Sgt Q helps veterans heal through the QMissions program, which shows “veterans how to replace the battle scars of their minds with the joy of serving.”

His book “Healing thru Service” offers a candid look into Sgt Q’s journey, ways to create positive triggers, and a step-by-step award-winning process of healing through mission service.

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

Find Sargent Q:

https://sgtq.net/

Buy his book:

https://amzn.to/37Cnich

Watch this interview on my YouTube channel:

https://bit.ly/3OCle4p

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com 

Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people." https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n

Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:” https://amzn.to/2ANczuR

Read my blog on Psychology Today: https://bit.ly/2Y9WdID

Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Phone: 800-273-8255

Apr 25, 202249:03
Ep. 86 - Gun violence and suicide | Andrew and Linda

Ep. 86 - Gun violence and suicide | Andrew and Linda

Whenever we discuss gun violence in the United States, the conversation usually revolves around homicide, but here is a side of this important topic that goes untouched: 60% of deaths by guns are actually suicide, not homicide. Again, we chose to ignore the majority due to the stigma associated with it.

In this episode, I talk to Linda Cavazos and Andrew Rose; both lost loved ones to suicide by firearm. They are part of those who are kept hidden when we explore the topic of gun violence. Linda lost her younger brother, Louie Pacheco, in 1980. He was 27 years old. Andrew lost his older brother, Ben, in October of 2013.

By talking to them, my goal is to give voice to the thousands of people who die by gun suicide around the world and to the families that stay behind.

My guests came to the podcast through the organization Everytown for gun safety: a movement of moms, dads, students, survivors, educators, gun owners, and concerned citizens working together to fight for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence.

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

Find Everytown for gun safety:

https://www.everytown.org/

Watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide:"

https://bit.ly/3DgL5d7

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com 

Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people." https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n

Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:” https://amzn.to/2ANczuR

Read my blog on Psychology Today: https://bit.ly/2Y9WdID

Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Phone: 800-273-8255

Mar 28, 202255:13
Ep. 85 - When pain is kept inside | Lori Prichard

Ep. 85 - When pain is kept inside | Lori Prichard

Two years after the loss of her husband to suicide, the award-winning journalist, Lori Prichard says she still experiences confusion; At times, life feels overwhelming. In this honest interview, she tells us about Travis, his gentleness and generosity, as well as his history of depression, which had never been shared with her. “He wouldn’t let me in,” she says.

Days after his death, Lori found a journal kept by Travis. His lines revealed a tortured soul who used to write that he had a “bully in his brain” and who struggled, in silence, to search for meaning and purpose so that he would stay alive.

Our conversation reveals a compassionate woman who chooses to come forward so that she can help others start the painful, difficult conversation about suicidal ideation with their loved ones.

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

Find Lori on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/LoriPrichardKSL

Watch her TED Talk “What I’ve learned from my husband’s suicide:”

https://bit.ly/3tfGvak

Watch this interview on my YouTube channel:

https://bit.ly/3tl311F

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com 

Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people." https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n

Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:” https://amzn.to/2ANczuR

Read my blog on Psychology Today: https://bit.ly/2Y9WdID

Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Phone: 800-273-8255

Feb 28, 202237:24
Ep. 84 - Dealing with blame after suicide | Dr. Jack Jordan

Ep. 84 - Dealing with blame after suicide | Dr. Jack Jordan

This episode was created at the request of my listeners. Unfortunately, the topic of blame and self-blame are ubiquitous in suicide, and it is particularly directed at the immediate family and spouses. They are victims of this in many ways. Sometimes, it comes disguised in the tone of voice of family and friends when they say things like “but you didn’t see it coming?” or “I told you he/she needed to see a doctor.” Self-blame may or not be present, but it lingers when it is.

It took me a while to find the “perfect” guest to talk about blame, but I did and I am so fortunate that he said yes to the podcast. Dr. Jack Jordan is a Clinical Psychologist in Pawtucket/RI, USA; he has spent decades treating grieving families and has written extensively on the topic of suicide loss. He took a few hours off his well-deserved retirement to talk to us, so thank you again, Dr. Jordan.

His interview was deep and compassionate, one that I will always keep in my heart. I hope it brings comfort to those in need.

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

Find Dr. Jack Jordan

https://www.johnjordanphd.com/

Buy his book "Devastating Losses: How Parents Cope With the Death of a Child to Suicide or Drugs:" 

https://amzn.to/35KSynU

Buy his book "Grief After Suicide: Understanding the Consequences and Caring for the Survivors:" 

https://amzn.to/3rzvPE4

Watch this interview on my YouTube channel:

https://bit.ly/3gvc7mm

Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people." https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com   

Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:” https://amzn.to/2ANczuR

Read my blog on Psychology Today: https://bit.ly/2Y9WdID

Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org 

Phone: 800-273-8255

Feb 07, 202201:00:19
Ep. 83 - Suicide rates dropped in 2020: how can that be? | John Sommers Flanagan and Stacey Freedenthal

Ep. 83 - Suicide rates dropped in 2020: how can that be? | John Sommers Flanagan and Stacey Freedenthal

Despite the sharp rise of mental health issues and many other risk factors during the onset of COVID-19, the number of suicides in the United States decreased in 2020. Not only that but the most significant drop (14%) happened in April of 2020 when most of the country was in lockdown.

In an effort to understand this phenomenon, I invited two American leading suicide prevention experts: clinical psychologist John Sommers-Flanagan and the clinical social worker Stacey Freedenthal. Both of them are authors in the field of Suicidology and have been working with suicidal patients for decades. They are also professors: John teaches at the University of Montana and Stacey, at the University of Denver.

  • What can possibly explain these puzzling numbers?
  • Is this really surprising or does it follow a trend that had already started in 2019?
  • What’s hidden behind the US statistics?

These and many other questions are discussed in this episode.

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

Find John Flanagan:

https://johnsommersflanagan.com/

His “dancing" video:

https://bit.ly/3GL2USx

Find Stacey Freedenthal:

http://staceyfreedenthal.com/

Watch this discussion on my YouTube Channel "Understand Suicide:" 

https://youtu.be/fPrDdQg7G_E

Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people." https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n 

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com  

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

https://amzn.to/2ANczuR  

Read my blog on Psychology Today:

https://bit.ly/2Y9WdID

Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet 

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone:

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Phone: 800-273-8255

Jan 20, 202253:43
Ep. 82 - She lost her son and brother to suicide | Georgena Eggleston

Ep. 82 - She lost her son and brother to suicide | Georgena Eggleston

Georgena Eggleston lost her son and her brother to suicide. In this episode, she shares what has helped her cope with these unthinkable losses, and what she has learned over the years by being a grief therapist. Today, Georgena works with both suicide bereavement groups and individuals who are struggling to deal with this kind of loss. She is the author of the book “A new morning: discovering the gifts in grief,” in which she tells the story of her son’s life, her understanding of what happened, and her grief trajectory. 

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

Find Georgena Eggleston: https://integratedwellbeinginstitute.com/ 

Buy her book: https://amzn.to/3IXObVM 

Watch this interview on my YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/HmxpxKyfgjQ 

Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people." https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n  

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com   

Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:” https://amzn.to/2ANczuR   

Read my blog on Psychology Today: https://bit.ly/2Y9WdID 

Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet  

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org Phone: 800-273-8255

Dec 20, 202130:33
Ep. 81 - From three suicide attempts to a meaningful life | JD Schramm

Ep. 81 - From three suicide attempts to a meaningful life | JD Schramm

I found JD Schramm by watching his TED talk. In that presentation, he came out, for the first time, about his suicide attempt. What he shared in this interview goes even deeper and covers different phases of his life, when other attempts had happened. The struggles he suffered involved drug abuse, dealing with his sexual identity, and a lot of negative self-image.

Today, he has turned his life around. He is married, engaged in mental health advocacy, has founded and led the Mastery in Communication Initiative at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, he is a published author, and was generous enough to share his story with us hoping that it will inspire others to make different and healthier choices in their lives.

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

Watch his TED talk:

https://bit.ly/3GLLfd4

Find JC Schramm:

https://jdschramm.com/about/

Watch this interview on my YouTube Channel "Understand Suicide":

https://bit.ly/3yA0YJh


Are you looking for an online suicide loss support group? Join mine. See details here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://t.ly/qcCC9⁠⁠⁠⁠


Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people." https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n 

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com  

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

https://amzn.to/2ANczuR  

Read my blog on Psychology Today:

https://bit.ly/2Y9WdID

Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet 

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone:

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Phone: 800-273-8255

Dec 15, 202144:58
Ep. 80 - When money and success are not enough | Kellan Fluckiger

Ep. 80 - When money and success are not enough | Kellan Fluckiger

Despite his traumatic, abusive childhood, which left him with a constant sense of brokenness, Kellen Fluckiger worked hard to have ‘everything’ a person needs: a wife, kids, a successful career, and of course, a lot of money.

One day, at home, alone, after yet another failed relationship, he decided to watch TV, which was quite unusual for him. He realized that, although he had the most expensive TV one could buy, Kellan had no idea how to turn it on. After his daughter showed him how to do it, he came across a show called “Intervention.” The protagonist was a high-ranking executive with a cocaine problem. “That’s crap,” he thought, then turned it off.

A few hours later, he felt compelled to turn on the TV again, and there it was, the same show, the same executive, the same sad drama. This time, he sat down and watched it.

That was the first of a series of inexplicable events that sent Kellan into a personal crisis that made him re-evaluate his life. The high-ranking executive story had hit a cord. This is part of what you will hear in this interview. In a way, it sounds like what happens to many people out there who spend their lives fighting depression, trauma, and addiction. They build families, put on a mask of success, but live miserably inside with suicidal thoughts, always on the verge of a breakdown.

Today, Kellan tries to help others find purpose and meaning in life. He still has the big TV, still doesn’t watch it much, but the reason now is that he is out there bringing his message across to those who need to hear it.

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

Find Kellan Fluckiger:

https://www.kellanfluckiger.com/

Enroll in my course (now with a special Holidays discount): "How to help suicidal people.https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n 

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com  

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

https://amzn.to/2ANczuR  

Read my blog on Psychology Today:

https://bit.ly/2Y9WdID

Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet 

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone:

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Phone: 800-273-8255

Dec 06, 202133:32
Ep. 79 - Mindfulness in your daily life | Paula Fontenelle
Nov 19, 202158:38
Best books on trauma

Best books on trauma

If you are interested in learning about trauma, watch my “Best books on trauma” review on YouTube. I focus on four great books, all of them written for the general public, so no jargon or complicated language.

I hope they help you understand the nature of trauma, how it affects the body, the way we perceive the world, and our relationships.

The books mentioned in the video are:

- What happened to you?: Conversations on trauma, resilience, and healing by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry

- Trauma and recovery: the aftermath of violence - from domestic abuse to political terror by Judith Herman

- Thriving after trauma: stories of living and healing by Shari Botwin

- The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma by Bessel Van der Kolk

WATCH HERE: https://youtu.be/u0szpCmUpJI

Nov 09, 202100:47
Ep. 78 - Self-harm and suicide | Juliana Falcão

Ep. 78 - Self-harm and suicide | Juliana Falcão

Is self-harm a risk factor or even a suicide warning sign? Is it related to addiction? What’s the best way to help a person who self harms? These and other questions are answered in this interview by the clinical psychologist and published author Juliana Falcão, who specializes in treating self-harm, particularly teenagers.

Her insightful overview about this topic includes an evaluation of the impact of the Internet on this phenomenon, tips to parents on how to address the issue with their kids, and the different meanings that self-harm holds to those who resort to self-injurious behaviors.

For those who are interested in knowing more about self-harm, Juliana recommends these books:

  1. A Bright Red Scream: Self-Mutilation and the Language of Pain by Marilee Strong
  2. Secret Scars: Uncovering and Understanding the Addiction of Self-injury by V.J. Turner
  3. Cutting it Out: A Journey through Psychotherapy and Self-Harm by Carolyn Smith and Maggie Turp

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

Watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide:”

https://bit.ly/3BDOsIB

Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people." https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n 

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com  

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

https://amzn.to/2ANczuR  


Are you looking for an online suicide loss support group? Join mine. See details here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://t.ly/qcCC9⁠⁠⁠⁠


Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet 

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone:

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Phone: 800-273-8255

Nov 03, 202134:57
Ep. 77 - Finding answers within the self | John Siddique

Ep. 77 - Finding answers within the self | John Siddique

John Siddique is a British author and poet who found answers to existential questions in spirituality. For quite some time, he struggled with self-doubt, negativity, and unhealthy relationships, but he would constantly hit a wall.

John wanted to understand himself: “I didn’t know how to love or how to live this life,” he told me. “I was living through certain objects (work, relationships). We try to move into those things to find meaning and not one of them has sufficient meaning in them.” Then, his path was lit by spiritual awareness, a journey within himself, or “back home,” as he says.

In this interview, John tells us about his discoveries, including his lived experiences with suicide. One of the topics we explored was the different meanings of suicide, which was quite enlightening to me.

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

Find John Siddique:

https://www.authenticliving.life/

His book: https://amzn.to/3aGfMuy

Watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide:”

https://bit.ly/3AKqVVV

Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people." https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n 

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com  

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

https://amzn.to/2ANczuR  

Read my blog on Psychology Today:

https://bit.ly/2Y9WdID

Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet 

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone:

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Phone: 800-273-8255

Oct 15, 202148:15
Ep. 76 - Aaron Wanserski: quitting his job saved his life | Suicide Awareness Month Series
Sep 28, 202144:01
New way to contact me (phone)

New way to contact me (phone)

Now you have a new way to contact me directly, but most importantly, to participate in the podcast! By phone!
I get a lot of individual questions from the listeners, so I decided to host episodes that will address these questions directly. Please send them in either written or voice formats. Make sure to let me know whether or not you would like for me to mention your name and where you're calling from, ok?
Also, when I have a new guest scheduled for the podcast, I will let you know in advance so that that you can send your own questions to them. This is a way that I found to include you on the podcast as a way for us to interact and build it together. Feel free to send me suggestions, comments, and questions either for me or for my guests.
The number is 541 9463141
Important: It's a USA number, so make sure to add the country code if you are not in the US. I have listeners from over 120 countries! and I want to make sure they reach me.
Thanks!
Sep 21, 202102:18
Ep. 75 - Chris Parker: a mental health advocate with suicidal ideation | Suicide Awareness Month Series

Ep. 75 - Chris Parker: a mental health advocate with suicidal ideation | Suicide Awareness Month Series

Today’s interview is the second in the Suicide Prevention Awareness Month series, an initiative that aims to offer additional resources to my listeners. My guest, Christopher Parker, is a suicide attempt survivor who hosts the podcast Coffee over suicide, which he describes as “a dramedy podcast about mental illness and choosing life over death one cup of coffee at a time.” 

Chris is a remarkable person who advocates for mental health and brings this difficult conversation into people’s homes with his podcast. In this interview, I felt touched by how genuine and caring he was. With a contagious smile, he shared some of his story and the different path he’s found to deal with personal struggles. His underlying message is one of hope, which is what I always want to bring to my listeners. 

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

Find his podcast: https://apple.co/39hgpKv 

Watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide:” 

https://youtu.be/h78bIqA_RM8

Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people." https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n 

Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com   

Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:” https://amzn.to/2ANczuR  

Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet 

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone: 

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Phone: 800-273-8255

Sep 18, 202141:53
Ep. 74 - Craig Foust: Teen Suicide | Suicide Awareness Month Series

Ep. 74 - Craig Foust: Teen Suicide | Suicide Awareness Month Series

In light of the Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, I’ve started a short series where I interview fellow podcasters whose podcasts cover the field of mental health. Some of them are specifically about suicide, others are broad but are equally helpful in dealing with a personal crises. My main objective is to offer additional resources to my listeners. 

Today, I talk to Craig Foust, an American licensed counselor, and we explore the theme of teen suicide. His podcast is called “Mental Health Insights,” and you can access it at the link below:  

https://bit.ly/3jP1Vrq  

Craig’s website: https://www.lifecarecounselingstl.com/  

Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people." https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n  

Watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide:”  https://bit.ly/3tulisP 

Listen to my interview on his podcast: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-329b5-10d70fb 

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   

Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet  

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Phone: 800-273-8255

Sep 07, 202147:41
Ep. 73 - Reshaping negative self-talk | Dr. Srikumar Rao

Ep. 73 - Reshaping negative self-talk | Dr. Srikumar Rao

Dr. Srikumar Rao is a speaker, author, former business school professor and the creator of Creativity and Personal Mastery, a course designed to effect personal transformation.

Through beautiful stories, Dr. Rao brings awareness to the negative internal talk we many times nourish in ourselves. “It's a self-reinforcing loop: the more you think about it, the deeper it becomes,” he says. The mental chatter influences how we relate, how we feel our experiences, and most importantly, how we create our reality.

He also sheds light into what he calls our “mental models,” our deep-rooted beliefs about how the world works.

So, how can we break these patterns and build a more meaningful, intentional life? That’s what we talk about in this interview.

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

Find Dr. Rao:

https://theraoinstitute.com/

Watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide:”

https://youtu.be/jL1FkEJlX68


Are you looking for an online suicide loss support group? Join mine. See details here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://t.ly/qcCC9⁠⁠⁠⁠


Enroll on my course "How to help suicidal people."

https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n

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 

Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone:

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Phone: 800-273-8255

Aug 25, 202147:06
How to help suicidal people
Aug 16, 202102:39
Ep. 72 - A Rabbi who lost his brother to suicide | David-Seth Kirshner

Ep. 72 - A Rabbi who lost his brother to suicide | David-Seth Kirshner

When Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner was told, twenty five years ago, that he needed to call home, he knew it was bad news, but what he didn’t expect was that later that day, his parents would answer the phone together so that they could tell him that his older brother, Gabriel, who was 36 years old at the time, had died by suicide. What he also didn’t know, because we never do, is that Gabriel’s devastating death would change their lives forever. 

In this interview, Rabbi Kirshner talks about how each member of his family reacted to Gabriel’s death, and how he, as a religious leader, engaged in advocacy so that he could personally open a constructive conversation about mental health and self-inflicted death. When he became the Rabbi of the Temple Emanu-El of Closter, in New Jersey, his opening sermon was about his brother’s suicide because he wanted his congregation to feel that they could come to him and talk about their struggles. 

He also opened up about the fact that, when Gabriel was a child, he had been sexually abused by a Rabbi, which impacted him immensely. Much to my surprise (and limited knowledge about Judaism), Rabbi Kirshner shared that Judaism has evolved from the all-or-nothing condemnation of suicide to a place of understanding.“Today, all the major streams of Judaism - not the extremes -, there is a sense of compassion, empathy, and understanding not only for the victims of suicide but for the survivors and family members,” he said. 

This has been quite an enlightening interview and it’s part of my efforts to bring religious and spiritual leaders to the podcast so that we can learn about these communities and the way they view 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

If you want to listen to Rabbi Kirshner or contact him, visit: http://rabbikirshner.com/ 

Watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide:” https://youtu.be/uIbME8UYBfk 

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  

Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet 

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Phone: 800-273-8255

Aug 06, 202145:28
Ep. 71 - Her three kids struggle with suicidal thoughts | Dawn Day

Ep. 71 - Her three kids struggle with suicidal thoughts | Dawn Day

“Mom, I want to die.” Within a period of 4 years, my guest Dawn Day heard this from all her three teenage daughters. One of them almost died from 2 suicide attempts; the other suffered from debilitating panic attacks; all struggle with depression. Dawn had the traumatic experience of reading a good-bye letter from one of her daughters. All this pain has transformed her life. Today, she educates parents who have children struggling with mental illness and suicidal ideation.

In this interview, Dawn talks about the individual traumas that her kids have endured, including different types of abuse. “I didn’t even recognize it as abuse at the time,” she says. She talks about her guilt and constant feeling that she should have known better, that she should have seen the signs.

The judgement of others is still present but together with her daughters, she is building a path of healing, one that is based on understanding, support, and love.

If you want to contact Dawn, visit her website:

https://hopefuldawn.com/

Watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide:”

https://bit.ly/3ri6e0w

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 

Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet

If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone:

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Phone: 800-273-8255

Jul 19, 202157:58