What does it mean to choose hope after deep pain?

September is #SuicidePreventionMonth—a reminder to cut through the surface and talk honestly about mental health.

As reported by the World Health Organization, 720,000 people take their own lives per year.-Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds.

-73% of suicides occur in low and middle-income countries

-The reasons for suicide are multifaceted, influenced by social, cultural, biological, psychological, and environmental factors present across the life-course.

-For every suicide, there are many more people who attempt suicide.

A prior suicide attempt is an important risk factor for suicide in the general population.

These stats are heartbreaking...and alarming...and we have to talk about them, BEFORE we lose more people.

I’ll never forget when a classmate died by suicide in college during my senior year. Suddenly, everything people kept bottled up—grief, confusion, guilt—was right there in the open.

2003 Harvard Crimson tribute "Friends Remember 'Beautiful & Vibrant' Smith - May she rest in peace

It was a harsh wake-up call to just how much pain goes unseen, how many of us are fighting battles no one notices, and how real the impact is when someone’s gone.

In this episode of Adventures in Adversity, I open up about college experiences with suicide and trauma, as well as an experience my family had last year with someone we lost.

I talk about surviving narcissistic abuse, dealing with loss, and what it’s really like to try to put your life back together after everything falls apart.

Learning about suicide in my own life and through the lives of my guests on this podcast has changed the way I look at others and myself.

Hearing about suicide for the first time didn’t just make me aware; it showed me how easily pain gets missed and how complicated life can get before someone finally asks for help.

These are the hard conversations—but silence does more damage. If any of this feels familiar, know that you’re not alone, or broken, or strange for having a hard time.

Reaching out isn’t weakness. Sometimes, it’s the only thing left that makes sense.

SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES

Stay Herehttps://www.stayhere.live/resourcesSuicide prevention education, support, and ACT training for individuals and communities.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988 for free, confidential 24/7 support from trained counselors for suicidal crisis, mental health emergencies, or emotional distress. Available nationwide in the U.S. - English and Spanish

MENTAL HEALTH APPS (2025 BEST PICKS)

Calm — Meditation and sleep aid

Headspace — Mindfulness and guided relaxation

Bearable — Mood & symptom tracking

Finch — Habit tracker and daily self-care

Breathe, Think, Do (for kids)

ADDITIONAL CRISIS SUPPORT

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free crisis support in the U.S..

SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (Mental health and substance use)

This episode was recorded in California at The Oakland Podcast Studio

Special thanks to Louiza for making this happen and DK, my fantastic sound engineer!

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