Content Note:
This episode includes discussion of suicide and suicide loss. Please listen with care and take breaks as needed. If you or someone you love is struggling, please reach out to a trusted person, local resources, or a crisis hotline in your area.

This episode is one of the most heartfelt and important conversations to date. Angelina sits down with Carla Williams, who courageously shares the story of losing her daughter, Kelsey, to suicide on January 3rd, 2025. Through grief, faith, community, and honesty, Carla is determined to break the silence around suicide loss and mental health struggles.

Together, they discuss stigma, misdiagnosis, difficulty accessing treatment, the emotional reality of navigating the mental health system, and the overwhelming lack of support for families — even when they are desperately seeking help. Carla also paints a beautiful picture of who Kelsey was: generous, creative, hilarious, caring, and full of life.
 

 Key Topics Covered

Carla’s experience losing her daughter and navigating unimaginable grief

The stigma and silence surrounding suicide loss — and why that must change

What mental health struggles looked like behind the scenes

The long waitlists, misdiagnoses, and medical blind spots families encounter

Why simply checking in on someone grieving is so meaningful

How Kelsey’s creativity, humor, kindness, and generosity live on in memory

The Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk & Carla’s 40-person team honoring Kelsey

Finding signs, spiritual comfort, and moments where Carla still feels her daughter’s presence

Why “It’s okay not to be okay” is the message she wants the world to hear

How grief connects survivors and builds unexpected community

About Kelsey — In Carla’s Words

Carla describes Kelsey as:

Quiet but deeply thoughtful

A hard worker from age 16 onward

Generous to a fault (“She’d give you $5.25 if you only needed $5”)

Talented in drawing and tattoo-style art

Someone who never met a stranger and made everyone smile

Her story brings humanity and dignity to the conversation around mental health and suicide.
 

Who This Episode Helps

This episode is for:

Suicide loss survivors

Parents of children with mental health struggles

Anyone navigating depression, bipolar disorder, or emotional imbalance

People frustrated with the gaps in the mental health system

Individuals searching for hope, faith, and healing

Friends wanting to support someone grieving

Connect with Carla Williams

Support her journey, honor Kelsey’s memory, and connect with her creativity:

Instagram – Personal:
https://www.instagram.com/tiggerbme

Instagram – Art / Creations:
https://www.instagram.com/cardcreations_by_cmarie

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/carla.williams.90834

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@CarlaWilliams-2021

Resources Mentioned:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) — Out of the Darkness Community Walks

Episode Takeaway

“It’s okay not to be okay.”
No one should grieve in silence. No one should struggle alone.
Hope comes from conversation, compassion, and community.

Connect with Angelina Rivera

🔗 Connect with Angelina Rivera
🌐 Website: angelinarivera.com
📅 Book a Free Discovery Call: angelinarivera.com/links
📲 Instagram: @refineandshinepodcast | @the.angelina.rivera
🎧 YouTube: Refine and Shine Podcast | Angelina Rivera
💼 LinkedIn: Angelina Rivera | Refine and Shine Podcast
🧘‍♀️ Sukha App – 7-Day Free Trial (no card required): TheSukha.co/?ref=angelina
🛍️ Work With Me — Courses & Coaching: https://angelinarivera.com/coaching-services

#SuicideLossAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #BreakTheSilence #RefineAndShinePodcast #MentalHealth #MentalWellness #Depression #MentalHealthCrisis #YouAreNotAlone #ItsOkayNotToBeOkay #988Lifeline #SuicidePrevention #GriefJourney #EndTheStigma

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