Episode Summary: In this powerful episode of The Mindful Living Podcast, host Sana is joined by Lisa Sugarman, author, mental health advocate, and 3x survivor of suicide loss, to discuss the importance of suicide prevention and mental health awareness during Suicide Prevention Month. Lisa shares her personal experiences of losing family members to suicide and emphasizes the need for open, direct conversations about mental health. Together, they explore ways to create safer environments—both online and offline—and the importance of supporting those who may be struggling, especially within the LGBTQ+ community. They also discuss the critical role of parents in engaging with their children about mental health and available resources, such as the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline, for those in need. Listeners can refer to refer Lisa's website - https://lisasugarman.com/resources to find exactly the kind of help they or anyone they know, need. And they can bookmark this page to always have the resources they need when they need them most.
About the Guest: Lisa Sugarman is a Boston-based author, columnist, and mental health advocate with a deep commitment to suicide prevention. A 3x survivor of suicide loss, Lisa works as a crisis counselor with The Trevor Project and is a storyteller with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). She uses her platform to end the stigma around mental health and suicide by sharing her own story and encouraging others to speak openly about their struggles. Lisa is the author of several books, including How to Raise Perfectly Imperfect Kids and Be Ok With It and LIFE: It Is What It Is, and contributes to platforms like TODAY Parents and Thrive Global.
Key Takeaways:
Open Conversations Save Lives: Lisa and Sana stress the importance of direct and compassionate conversations about mental health and suicide, urging listeners to ask tough but necessary questions to check in on loved ones.
Breaking the Stigma: Sharing personal experiences, like Lisa’s story of losing her father to suicide, can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide, creating a culture where people feel safer seeking help.
Support for the LGBTQ+ Community: The discussion highlights the unique mental health challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals and the importance of inclusive support systems, like The Trevor Project, which offers crisis support through various platforms.
Parental Guidance in Mental Health Conversations: Parents are encouraged to engage in open, honest, and age-appropriate conversations with their children about mental health. Listening actively and recognizing behavioral changes can be critical in supporting their well-being.
Resources Are Available: Listeners are reminded of essential resources, such as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline and The Trevor Project, for anyone struggling with thoughts of suicide or mental health issues. Listeners can refer to refer Lisa's website - https://lisasugarman.com/resources to find exactly the kind of help they or anyone they know, need. And they can bookmark this page to always have the resources they need when they need them most.
