Longtime friend on this week’s episode, I met Dr. Joseph Geraci on the advisory committee through "Face the Fight" a consortium/initiative; goal to reduce Veterans' suicide by 50% in 5 years. We review the crucial support mechanisms for veterans during their vulnerable transition period into civilian life, especially focusing on preventing suicide.
I had the absolute pleasure of talking with the inspiring Dr. Margaret Rutherford. Let me tell you, Dr. Margaret’s journey is nothing short of transformative. She opened up about the pressures we put on ourselves to be perfect and how embracing both strengths and weaknesses is the key to self-acceptance. We had a fantastic discussion about the beautifully imperfect stories that connect us more deeply than any facade of perfection ever could. Margaret’s decision to share her personal struggles on social media was initially terrifying, but she found an overwhelming wave of support that made it all worth it.
Veterans suicide death and military mental health has been making headlines for decades, on today’s episode we look at the root causes. I am joined by Rachel Oswalt, an inspiring US Navy veteran and mental wellness advocate. Rachel discusses the critical role of connecting with supportive individuals throughout her life's journey, particularly in navigating the labyrinth of military mental health. We explored some of the pressing issues plaguing military communities, from the devastating rates of veteran suicides to the overshadowing stigma that hinders mental health reporting.
In this episode of Hope Illuminated, nurse Christopher Wojnar shares his journey through mental health challenges, resilience, and the importance of workplace peer support in suicide prevention. Gain insights into nursing well-being and the transformative power of storytelling in mental health advocacy.
In this episode of Hope Illuminated, I am joined by Simon Tyler for a deeply insightful conversation. Together, we dive into the complex relationship between masculinity, mental health, and suicide prevention. Simon bravely shares his personal journey, reflecting on the impact of losing father figures to suicide and his own struggles with mental health. Through his experiences in male-dominated environments like the construction industry and Australian Football, Simon sheds light on the critical need for tailored support for men facing mental health challenges.
Throughout our conversation, Simon emphasizes the pivotal role of lived experience in shaping understanding and interventions in mental health. His journey drives his commitment to supporting others and fostering meaningful change.
Listeners are invited to explore the nuances of masculinity, mental health, and suicide prevention as Simon discussed his important research. Through a mixed methods approach, Simon uncovers the complexities of suicide risk within the construction industry.
More about Simon Tyler
Prior to attending university, Simon spent an extensive period working in various areas of the construction and manufacturing industry allowing for a first-hand experience of some of the associated difficulties. Simon has a Bachelor of Psychological Science with First Class Honors and a Master of Organizational and Human Factors Psychology at the University of Adelaide. Currently, he is a PhD candidate at the University of South Australia with research focused on the nature and drivers of suicidal ideation in the Australian construction industry. Simon is the inaugural recipient of the Alison Milner Memorial Scholarship.
Takeaways
Lived experience drives understanding and intervention in mental health.
Focus on situational drivers, not just risk factors, for mental health.
Contact Simon
Show Notes
Disentangling Rates, Risk, and Drivers of Suicide in the Construction Industry https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000885
Suicidal Ideation in the Australian Construction Industry: Prevalence and the Associations of Psychosocial Job Adversity and Adherence to Traditional Masculine Norms https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315760
“And you feel like you’re suffocating … how the fuck am I going to get out of all this?” Drivers and experiences of suicidal ideation in the Australian construction industry https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1144314
Explore technology-driven mental health solutions with Bianca McCall, advocate and former athlete, on the Hope Illuminated podcast. Discover insights on breaking barriers, mental health equity, and transformative peer support. Dive deep with Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas into this compelling conversation.
Discover the transformative power of trauma-sensitive yoga and body-centered healing in the latest episode of "Hope Illuminated" with Dr. Sally Spencer Thomas. Joined by expert guest Jessa, listeners explore the profound journey from childhood suicidal thoughts to finding empowerment through Ashtanga yoga. Dive into a candid conversation on overcoming trauma, the importance of lived experience in mental health care, and the science behind holistic approaches to healing.
Each year, the sobering statistics remind us of the heartbreaking reality: autistic individuals are six times more likely to die by suicide than their non-autistic counterparts.
In our latest episode, we delve into the powerful narrative of "Find Him Among the Living," a poignant memoir by Dr. Jessica Revill. Through her deeply personal account of her son Gregory Chew's life and tragic loss to suicide, Dr. Revill sheds light on the urgent need to address the disproportionate number of suicides within the autistic community.
Autism, a developmental condition impacting communication and sensory processing, often intersects with mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. Shockingly, 90% of autistic individuals who die by suicide have a diagnosed mental health disorder, compared to 40% in the non-autistic population.
Join us as we navigate these critical issues, striving to create a world where every individual, regardless of neurodiversity, feels seen, supported, and valued. Tune in to my conversation with Dr. Revill and visit her website for further insights and resources on suicide prevention and autism advocacy.
For many mental health providers clinical training around suicide — if we received any at all — was rooted in fear and was focused on trying to mitigate risk for the clinician rather than on how to help the person in despair. In this podcast, I interview Dr. David Jobes, a clinician-researcher who has dedicated his life’s work to finding an evidence-based approach to helping people through their suicidal suffering. Here we discuss the capstone edition in his three-book series that helps clients find their way back to a passion for living.
David A. Jobes, Ph.D., ABPP, is a Professor of Psychology, Director of the Suicide Prevention Laboratory, and Associate Director of Clinical Training at The Catholic University of America in Washington DC. He is the author of seven books and numerous peer-reviewed journal articles. He is the creator of the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) which is an evidence-based, suicide-focused, approach to suicide risk. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and is a board certified clinical psychologist (American Board of Professional Psychology). Dr. Jobes maintains a private clinical and consulting practice in DC and in Maryland.
Dimeff et al (2021) Using a Tablet-Based App to Deliver Evidence-Based Practices for Suicidal Patients in the Emergency Department: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Ment Health 2021;8(3):e23022 https://mental.jmir.org/2021/3/e23022
Jobes, D. (2017). Clinical Assessment and Treatment of Suicidal Risk: A Critique of Contemporary Care and CAMS as a Possible Remedy. Practice Innovations, 2(4): 207–220.
Jobes, D. et al. (2018). A Stepped Care Approach to Clinical Suicide Prevention. Psychological Services. 15(3): 243–250.
Jobes, D. & Chalker, S. (2019). One Size Does Not Fit All: A Comprehensive Clinical Approach to Reducing Suicidal Ideation, Attempts, and Deaths. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 16, 3606; doi:10.3390/ijerph16193606
Jobes, D. (2020). Commonsense Recommendations for Standard Care of Suicidal Risk. Journal of Health Service Psychology https://doi.org/10.1007/s42843-020-00020-3
Lynch, et al (2022) The Content of Patient-Identified Suicidal Drivers within CAMS Treatment Planning. ARCHIVES OF SUICIDE RESEARCH https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2022.2151958
David Rudd M, Bryan CJ, Jobes DA, Feuerstein S and Conley D (2022) A Standard Protocol for the Clinical Management of Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior: Implications for the Suicide Prevention Narrative. Frontiers in Psychiatry 13:929305. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.929305
Santel M, Neuner F, Berg M, Steuwe C, Jobes DA, Driessen M and Beblo T (2023) The Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality compared to enhanced treatment as usual for inpatients who are suicidal: A randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry 14:1038302. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1038302
…Understanding this evolving landscape is crucial in addressing men's body image issues and promoting a healthier, more inclusive perspective on masculinity and self-worth. By understanding these challenges, men’s health advocates hope to foster greater awareness, empathy, and support for men facing these issues.
In this episode, I interview Ross Sonnenblick about his doctoral research, his desire to help others, and his lived experience with body image challenges.
If you’ve watched the movie “Barbie” released this week, you may understand that Kenergy can be understood as a positive framing of masculinity, which challenges toxic portrayals of traditional male traits. The term draws inspiration from the character Ken, who plays a supportive role in his relationship with Barbie. Ken’s character stands in contrast to conventional gender norms that expect men to be dominant and stoic and to avoid embracing traits perceived as "weak."…
Masculinity has long been associated with stoicism, patriarchy, and self-reliance, but these traditional norms have proven detrimental to men's mental health. Higher rates of suicide, lower rates of help-seeking, and increased substance use and violence among men highlight the urgency for change. In his book "Man Kind: Tools for Mental Health, Well-Being, and Modernizing Masculinity," counseling psychologist Dr. Zachary Gerdes presents a transformative framework to help men foster collaboration, embrace vulnerability, and build mental resilience. By challenging outdated concepts of masculinity, Gerdes offers a path toward improved mental health and well-being for men. Societal expectations that encourage men to suppress emotions and avoid seeking help exacerbate men’s mental health challenges.
In this podcast, Dr. Gerdes covers the LIFT model of helping men modernize ideas about masculinity and live happier lives.
Many of us bereaved by suicide find ourselves as Frank Campbell describes in a “Canyon of Why”. Our world assumptions are shattered.
What happens to a family with multiple losses by suicide?
In this interview I speak to Juliet Patterson, a poet and the author of the book “Sinkhole: A Legacy of Suicide.” Juliet grew up in the shadows of multiple family members deaths by suicide and wondered too — “Will I die this way?” Instead, she has come to find poetry and other forms of storytelling are helping her make meaning.
Sara Easterly, the author of “Searching for Mom” once said “I entered a long period of death ideation in adolescence when I began wondering about my birth mother almost constantly. The losses due to adoption began to feel overwhelming, but it didn’t feel like there was room to grieve.”
According to a research study published by the journal of Pediatrics, adoptees are four time more likely to report a suicide attempt than non-adoptees and Lina Vanegas, our podcast guest, has some ideas of why this is so including:
the trauma of separation from the birth family
the lack of medical history, which may give insights to health and mental health vulnerabilities
racism when adoption is transnational or transracial
isolation from the cultural community of origin
microagressions from others about how grateful an adopted person should be
The research on ”Adverse Childhood Experiences” is clear — The CDC Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study has identified ten types of childhood trauma that can affect people later in life. Five types of trauma are personal, such as physical abuse or neglect, while the other five are related to family members, such as having a parent who is an alcoholic or experiencing the divorce of parents. Each type of trauma counts as one, so someone who has experienced physical abuse, has one alcoholic parent, and a mother who was a survivor of domestic violence has an ACE score of three.
The study revealed a strong link between childhood trauma and chronic diseases that people develop as adults, such as heart disease, lung cancer, and diabetes. It also showed a link to social and emotional problems such as depression, violence, and suicide.
Anyone who has been a teacher knows the work is hard, and at the same time — when work is working well — immensely rewarding. The work can be purposeful and filled with close relationships a vibrant communities.
No one enters the teaching profession to become rich and famous — they enter for the difference they will make.
And yet, our nation is facing a mental health crisis among our educators; one of burnout and demoralization. Many are operating in survival mode due to complete emotional exhaustion. The stressors they face are significant:
Safety concerns related to mass school shootings and drug use
Funding deficits
Labor shortage
Meeting escalating physical and emotional needs of students
Unrealistic expectations from districts and parents
Just to name a few…
Teachers’ well-being is something most communities overlook in their intention to always put students first. In this episode I speak with two school psychologists who express grave concern about educators’ psychological health and safety — and also make concrete suggestions on what we can do to help them.
I’ve lost two people close to me to suicide. In both situations, I saw the signs. We talked about their thoughts of suicide. They got help. And in both cases, their pain and suffering became too much. While I think the survivor guilt is always there — the “if only” thoughts that linger — I have mostly come to peace with my role in trying to support them. Sometimes despite all of our best efforts and resources, we might still lose people to addiction, overdose and suicide.
We often hold mental health professionals to the unrealistic standard of saving everyone. We don’t have this expectation for our oncologists or cardiologists. We expect them to do the very best job they can based on the very best science and tools that exist. And, while deaths from heart disease and cancer are very tragic, we often give grace and even gratitude to our loved ones’ care providers in these areas.
In this episode, I speak with fellow psychologist, Dr. Dan Reidenberg about his experience losing a friend and board member to suicide. We lift up a call to action to the mental health community to expand the conversation on how suicide loss impacts those of us in the field of suicide prevention.
