Tag: resilience

When Therapists Have Lived through Suicide Intensity — Deep Insights on Helping the Suicidal Person: Interview with Dr. Stacey Freedenthal

All Network Episodes, Black Lives Matter, Hope Illuminated

Do mental health providers’ own personal histories with suicide impact their interactions with and attitudes towards people experiencing suicide intensity? What happens when clinicians disclose their own suicide attempts to the public or to their clients? Does an “insider’s view” help a therapist to be more of an ally than an adversary? In this interview Dr. Stacey Freedenthal and I explore these questions as we have an in-depth conversation about her deep insights in helping the suicide person.

About Dr. Stacey Freedenthal
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Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW, is a tenured faculty member at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work where she teaches Suicide Assessment and Interventions, Assessment of Mental Health in Adults, Clinical Social Work Theory and Practice, and Social Justice Challenges in Mental Health Practice. She writes poignantly and powerfully about suicide. Her book, Helping the Suicidal Person: Tips and Techniques for Professionals, contains evidence-based instructions and advice for assessing risk, planning for safety and helping the suicidal person to build hope, coping skills and reasons for living. She has written more than 70 articles for her website SpeakingOfSuicide.com, a blog that has received over five million visitors since 2013.

Freedenthal started her journey working in the field of suicide prevention in 1994, when she volunteered at a suicide hotline. Subsequently, she earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Texas at Austin. She held clinical positions in psychiatric emergency settings before returning to school to earn a PhD in social work from Washington University in St. Louis. Before Freedenthal became a social worker, she worked as a journalist for The Dallas Morning News. for more information go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/hope-illuminated-podcast/48

A Mother’s Love with Liz Brown-Norden

All Network Episodes, The Trauma Impact

Liz Brown-Norden is the mother of 5 children and proud resident of Massachusetts. Two of her sons suffered devastating injuries in the Boston Marathon Bombing, both suffered right leg amputations. One above the knee and one below the knee. Trauma impacted her entire family and she bravely shares her experience of a Mother’s Love and gut wrenching pain. The impact of trauma is real and long lasting. Liz humbly shares her experience as the mother of victims of terrorism, from the attack through the trial.

“There is so much bad in the world and but so much more good.”

Liz started the Leg Forever Foundation in the aftermath of her own pain, choosing to repay the kindness that was showed to her and her family during the darkest time in their lives.

Teens Bereaved by Suicide — Moving Forward When You Feel Left Behind: Interview with Jason Holzer | Episode 47

All Network Episodes, Hope Illuminated

When a teen loses a loved one to suicide, the intense reactions can be overwhelming, and sometimes the caring adults don’t know what to do to help. Teens who are already feeling the pressure of school and social expectations can be very challenged in navigating the complexity of suicide bereavement. In this interview, Jason shares his journey from surviving to thriving after losing his Dad to suicide when he was 17.

About Jason Holzer
Jason grew up in Missouri in a loving family. At age 17, however, his life was changed forever on May 8, 2003, when his Dad died by suicide. Later Jason found a calling for resilience through his faith and vocation as a teacher and basketball coach to #Act2Impact. He strives to make meaning out of his loss to positively impact others and them them overcome the lasting impact of a suicide death. Today his is a speaker and the author of the book, “Shattered by Suicide: Renewed by Resilience.”
For more information go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/hope-illuminated-podcast/47
Music provided by https://www.royaltyfree-music.com

Mass violence survivor, therapist and endurance athlete Amy O’Neill talks resilience and the survivor journey on new Mental Health News Radio Network podcast The Trauma Impact

Host of new MHNRN podcast The Trauma Impact, Amy O’Neill brings her unique perspective as a survivor of the Boston Marathon Bombing, an endurance athlete and a mental health professional with over two decades of clinical experience to an in-depth look at trauma and mass violence.

The Forgotten Mourners — Disenfranchised Grief of Siblings Bereaved by Suicide: Interview with Dr. Lena Heilmann | Episode 46

All Network Episodes, Hope Illuminated

Editor of “Still with Us: Voices of Sibling Suicide Loss,” Dr. Lena Heilmann joins me for our shared reflection on the experience of losing a brother or sister to suicide. We speak about how in this form of loss, siblings experience losing their past, present and future. Lena also suggests many strategies for coping with the grief and trauma of suicide loss.

On November 22, 2012, Lena lost her sister Danielle to suicide. Seven years later, she is turning that tremendous grief into energy to help other siblings who have experienced suicide loss. Her book is an anthology of sibling loss stories, organized by time since loss. She says “there is no gatekeeping on what it means to be a sibling,” meaning meaning a sibling is defined as anyone (a cousin, a friend, a relative, a family member through marriage, a soul connection, etc.) who fills a sibling role in our lives.

Reading reminded me of my journey of losing Carson from:

Feeling like I lost a part of myself

Later grieving the lost dreams I had imagined of us raising families together in Colorado

Still later I experienced survival guilt because I have learned so much about suicide since his death

Now I miss his presence greatly with the transitions I face in my life.

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I was so honored when Lena asked me to be one of the storytellers in her book. Together with many other sibling survivors, we are holding honor guard, as my friend Sarah Gaer calls it, for our loved ones by honoring their lives and sharing our stories. Many of us carry forward our loved one’s legacy and help others, so that we can make meaning out of our unimaginable loss.

In this podcast, Lena and I discuss many topics including the connection between suicide and trauma and the importance of storytelling in cutting through the loneliness of suicide grief.

About Dr. Lena Heilmann
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Lena Heilmann lost her sister Danielle to suicide in 2012. In response to this traumatic loss and as a way to honor her sister, Lena transitioned to the world of suicide prevention. In her work and volunteer roles, Lena centers her lived experience and identity as a sibling suicide loss survivor. Her recent project is a collection of essays titled Still With Us: Voices of Sibling Suicide Loss Survivors (forthcoming), which includes 23 essays written by sibling suicide loss survivors. These essays share a common message: No matter how much time passes, our siblings are still with us.

Lena left the world of academia where she taught as a college professor in the areas of German studies, English, and gender, so she could work in suicide prevention full time. I have come to know and admire her work, strength and thoughtfulness through our shared tenure on the board of the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado. We are also proud graduates of Regis University’s Masters in Nonprofit Management program.

Twitter: @LenaSchatz

Contact email related to book: LenaSurvivingSiblingSuicide@gmail.com
for mor information n this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/hope-illuminated-podcast/46
Music provided by https://www.royaltyfree-music.com

Resilience Expert Dr. Leo Flanagan

All Network Episodes, The Trauma Impact

Resilience Expert Dr. Leo Flanagan shares valuable lessons learned throughout his career working with trauma communities. Tune in to learn about the unique challenges helps face when working with victims that have endured trauma. Dr. Flanagan closes with 3 tips to help us stay hardy and resilient during these troubling times.

Leo F. Flanagan, Jr., PhD has more than 30 years of experience in the crafting and activation of business transformations by integrating human capital, innovation, and customer loyalty strategies. He has held senior level corporate positions at Merrill Lynch, Willis Holdings and The Forum Corporation. He consults across a wide range of industries including digital media, consumer goods, financial services, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology.

Consulting engagements have ranged from working with PE firms and portfolio companies on turnarounds and accelerations to partnering with global enterprises such as Bank of America, Citi, The Home Depot, IBM, JPMorgan Chase, McDonalds, MMC and UBS to craft and activate strategies to drive revenue growth, engage employees, upgrade talent and deliver the brand.

His brand of business transformation is fast, lean, practical and integrated with – not burdened on – the business. His work produces a true ROI. Double digit increases in revenue, customer loyalty and employee engagement and reductions in cost are trademarks of his leadership. One leading financial services company recently calculated the ROI from his work at 67:1. The CFO of a major bank cited his work more valuable than a $1bn acquisition with an 18% ROE.

Early in his career, Leo was a faculty member at Cornell University’s, School of Industrial and Labor Relations. A regular speaker at leading universities, Carnegie Mellon recently selected him as a faculty member and executive coach for its new Executive Leadership Academy. The Academy will prepare high-potential African Americans for advancement.

Always active in philanthropy and volunteer work, Leo currently is on the Board of Tuesday’s Children, an advisor to Children’s Learning Centers of Fairfield County and a member of Ministry to the Homeless. As Director of Community Resilience & Behavioral Health for H.E.A.R.T. 911 he volunteered in response to the Newtown School Shooting, Superstorm Sandy and the Moore Oklahoma EF-5 tornado.

Leo earned his PhD at City University of New York, his M.A. at Hunter College and his B.A. at Fordham University. Leo and his wife Maureen have four daughters. They also share a passion for travel as well as skiing, tennis, and sailing. Leo is also an avid fisherman.

Global Perspectives on World Suicide Prevention — Taking a Glimpse inside the World Congress of the International Association for Suicide

All Network Episodes, Hope Illuminated

Over 855 delegates from 57 countries convened in Derry/Londonderry to share the science, stories and strategy of suicide prevention and suicide grief/trauma support. The theme of the conference was “Breaking Down Walls, Building Bridges” and the conference planners were exceptionally mindful about equity in their selection of speakers and content. The voices of people with lived experience were prevalent throughout and one of my favorite sessions was among prominent suicidologists and clinicians who shared their experiences with discrimination and prejudice within the field of suicide prevention. We also had an opportunity to honor the lives and service of two giants in our field who died way too soon — Prof Allison Milner and Dr. Jan Mokkenstorm. Tune in to be inspired to be part of this international community pulling together to prevent suicide and alleviate suffering. For more information go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/hope-illuminated-podcast

To Mark World Suicide Prevention Day, Mental Health News Radio Network Raises Awareness With Its Podcast Hope Illuminated

New Mental Health Radio Network Podcast Hope Illuminated shines a light on suicide and how to prevent it.

Hosted by psychologist Sally Spencer-Thomas, who lost her brother Carson to suicide in 2004, Hope Illuminated provides a platform to international experts who share the stories, science and strategies of suicide prevention, intervention and crisis response.

Hope Illuminated is for people living with suicidal intensity, suicide attempt survivors, suicide loss survivors, caregivers, the mental health community and all those interested in making a difference in this area.

Suicide and Culture — Arts, Religion and Social Justice: Interview with Dr. Erminia Colucci | Episode 44

All Network Episodes, Black Lives Matter, Hope Illuminated

In the United States our suicide rates are going up, but in much of the world, the suicide rates are going down. In this interview I speak with the world renowned Erminia Colucci to discuss the Anglo perspective of a highly medicalized perspective of suicide and contrast that with an understanding of suicide in a larger context. In her view, we must situate suicide prevention within a social, cultural and political context to be effective. She is part of a group of “Critical Suicidologists” who are challenging some of the “truths” we have accepted within the suicide prevention field. As an activist researcher she wants to engage with the community and helps us better to understand the root causes of inequality, oppression, violence and related conditions of human suffering.

Erminia and I have this conversation at the World Congress for Suicide Prevention in Derry, Ireland. We are sitting in an art studio in the Playhouse for this conversation, and explore a ‘different way’ to help people on their darkest day.

Take aways:
Suicide needs to be seen in a larger context within the cultures people belong to

We need to break the silence in some areas of understanding suicide like social justice

By exploring alternative methods that work for people, like the arts, faith, and others, we can make a difference to alleviate suffering and prevent suicide.

About Dr. Erminia Colucci
Erminia Colucci
Erminia Colucci is currently a senior lecturer at the Department of Psychology at Middlesex University London (UK), however she has lectured and conducted research all over the4 world including Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and in her home country of Italy. In 2015 she was awarded the International Association for Suicide Prevention’s award for innovative research among young researchers. The focus of her research is on on the cultural implications of suicide on mental health and suicide with a focus on low-middle income countries and immigrant and refugee populations. Her key interests are human rights and mental health, suicide and suicide prevention, domestic violence against women and children, child neglect/exploitation, spirituality and faith-based and spiritual/traditional healing, and first-hand stories of people with lived-experience of ‘mental illness’ and suicidal behavior. Erminia is passionate about using arts-based and visual methods, particularly photography and ethnographic film-documentary, in her research, teaching and advocacy activities. Erminia is the chair of the International Association for Suicide Prevention SIG in Culture and Suicidal Behaviour, Chair of the World Association of Cultural Psychiatry SIG on Arts, Media and Mental Health and founder of Movie-ment (https://movie-ment.org) and Aperture, the first Asia-Pacific ethnographic documentary festival. For more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/hope-illuminated-podcast/44

Navy Yard Shooting Survivor Sherrie Lawson: PTSD and Therapy

All Network Episodes, The Trauma Impact

Sherrie bravely spends an hour with me talking about PTSD, therapy and resilience. Sherrie continued to look for professional support despite setbacks with the clinicians she encountered along the way. This is a must listen for clinicians to hear what worked and what did not and for survivors who are still searching for the right help.

Sherrie Lawson survived the Washington Navy Yard shooting that occurred on September 16, 2013. Through her healing journey she became passionate about supporting others that also suffer from the “invisible wounds’ of trauma. She joined The Rebels Project as a member in 2014 and began working with TRP in an official capacity in 2016. After spending 15 years in Washington, DC and returning home to her native NC for two years she relocated to Denver, Colorado to become even more involved in the TRP mission of providing support for survivors of mass tragedy. Sherrie currently volunteers as Director of Operations for TRP. In addition to her work with TRP she lectures at the University of Colorado-Denver and a is SoulCollage(R) Facilitator.

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