Suicide Survival Stories

Feb. 24, the day this episode is airing, is the anniversary of my dad’s suicide, so it was especially important to me for this month’s episode to spotlight suicide prevention work and resources. On today’s episode, we’re talking to Bryan Schroeder, the Executive Director of Giving Kitchen, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that provides emergency assistance for food service workers through financial support and a network of community resources. One key resource provided by Giving Kitchen is free suicide prevention training. QPR, the CPR of suicide prevention training, is a simple, 45-minute course that prepares you to support a friend, family member, or teammate who is contemplating suicide. Giving Kitchen is proud to provide food service workers nationwide FREE access to the QPR suicide prevention training course online. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer - three steps anyone can learn to prevent suicide. Learn more about Giving Kitchen and its suicide prevention work at thegivingkitchen.org/qpr or follow them on Instagram and Twitter @givingkitchen.

Today’s guest on Suicide Survival Stories is Carrie Lanier, an active community volunteer with more than a decade of marketing and public relations experience. Until 2010, Carrie worked for Jackson Spalding, where she led efforts for several of the firm’s top clients. Earlier, Carrie worked for Spanx as well as Chicago-based Marketing Werks, where she drove the Hershey’s Kissmobile across the U.S., raising awareness for the Hershey’s Kisses brand and funds for Children’s Miracle Network. More recently, Carrie has held various roles on the Atlanta Speech School Board of Trustees where she currently serves as Vice Chair. She was the 2018-2019 Atlanta Speech School Guild President, where her leadership efforts fostered community building and provided significant fundraising for the School’s financial aid program. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for Trinity School, where her three daughters are students. Since 2016, Carrie has been on Skyland Trail’s Advisory Board. This organization is a true passion of hers given the loss of her brother Jimmy to suicide. In 2021, Carrie co-chaired Skyland Trail’s primary annual fundraising event, “Benefits of Laughter,” where her efforts helped lead to a record-breaking $1.2 million dollars raised for financial aid. Carrie and her husband, Whit, have three young daughters and one furry Goldendoodle son. Originally from South Carolina, Carrie graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Carolina’s Honors College and is an active alumna and Gamecock fan. The Laniers attend St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, and Carrie enjoys biking, hiking, traveling, writing, and reading. Carrie joins us today to talk about her experience with suicide and remember her brother, Jimmy, who died by suicide on April 11, 1994, when he was 22 and Carrie was 16.

Today’s guest on Suicide Survival Stories is Erin Bernhardt, the Director and Producer of Refuge, a story about fear and love in the American South. Refuge premiered on Nov. 13 at the DOC NYC festival, which celebrates and supports documentary filmmaking. Erin has won numerous film festival awards, two Peabody Awards, and an Emmy. Her first independent feature documentary, IMBA MEANS SING, aired worldwide on Netflix, Delta Studio, and all major VOD platforms. Prior to independent filmmaking, Erin served in the Peace Corps in Madagascar, worked as a Writer/Producer at CNN, and as the Director of Engagement for Points of Light, President George. H. W. Bush’s foundation. Erin currently serves as Digital Content Producer for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She loves volunteering, traveling, teaching yoga, and making her baby boy giggle. Erin is also courageous enough to share her mental health and suicidal ideation experiences with us today.