Podcasts about suicidology aas

How do we support providers who are impacted by suicide loss? Although most of us are familiar with the importance of suicide prevention, we are less familiar with the concept of suicide postvention. Dr. Megan Harvey of the Rocky Mountain MIRECC joins us on this episode to discuss how we can compassionately and effectively support providers coping with a suicide loss, either professional or personal. Tune in for this important discussion.Dr. Harvey is a psychologist with over 15 years of experience working within the VA Health System. She provides consultation and other services as part of the Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program housed by the Rocky Mountain MIRECC.Resources:The Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program (SRM) provides free consultation, support, and resources to VA or non-VA providers who serve Veterans at risk for suicide. Visit their website SRM Home - MIRECC / CoE (va.gov) or reach out via email: srmconsult@va.govThe provider section of Uniting for Suicide Postvention (USPV) offers resources, guidance and support to those affected by suicide loss: https://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn19/postvention/providers/Connect with the Coalition of Clinician Survivors for support: www.cliniciansurvivor.orgAmerican Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): https://afsp.org/find-support/ive-lost-someone/American Association of Suicidology (AAS): https://suicidology.org/resources/suicide-loss-survivors/TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) for those impacted by military or Veteran suicide. https://www.taps.org/Calls-to-action:Acknowledge the loss, whether it is your own or a colleague's.If you have experienced a loss, talk to a supervisor, close friend, consultant, or personal therapist. Don't grieve alone.Watch the following video on The Personal and Professional Impact of Suicide Loss: https://youtu.be/Gd4Vcn9tJ1ESubscribe to the Practical for Your Practice PodcastSubscribe to The Center for Deployment Psychology Monthly EmailShare your EBP fears with us on www.speakpipe.com/cdpp4p

Have you ever wrestled with the gravity of youth suicide and bullying? Have you ever wished you could understand it better to make a difference in a young person's life? In this episode, we had a meaningful conversation with the President and CEO of the American Association of Suicidology, Leeann Sherman. The discussion focused on the rising rates of youth suicide, the urgent need for mental health awareness, and the creation of safe, stigma-free spaces for dialogue. We talked about the labyrinth of social and economic factors that impact youth suicide rates. These factors, often intertwined, can create an environment where young people feel increasingly hopeless and isolated. Understanding youth suicide and finding ways to combat it is a pressing issue that requires our attention. We hope that this episode can help shed light on the problem, spread awareness, and promote action towards addressing youth suicide. About Leeann Sherman | President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Leeann Sherman, MPS, CAE, is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS). Sherman brings extensive non-profit experience with over 20 years in professional associations and community-driven, mission-based organizations to her tenure with AAS. This national organization provides training, education, research, and awareness programs to promote the understanding and prevention of suicide. Sherman has been a founding member of various industry coalitions to drive mission and advocacy forward, working with stakeholders and volunteers throughout her diverse career. She has worked with federal, state, and local government agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control, the PA Department of Health, the PA Department of Human Services, the PA Department of Transportation, the PA Department of Environmental Protection, the Federal Highway Administration, US Department of Transportation, Pennsylvania's Governor's Office and federal legislators while also working closely on advocacy with the Pennsylvania Legislature. She has a baccalaureate (Hospitality Management and Nutrition) and a master's degree (Community and Economic Development) from Pennsylvania State University. She is an active alum at her alma mater in various activities for the next generation. She has been awarded the Scott Jackson Award for leadership from PASAE, the highest honor for an association executive in Pennsylvania. She is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential, the marker of a committed association professional who has demonstrated the wide range of knowledge essential to manage an association in today's challenging environment, with less than 4,500 people worldwide holding this certification. Links mentioned:   Website: https://suicidology.org/  Website: https://nicic.gov/weblink/american-association-suicidology  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AASuicidology  Instagram: @aasuicidology Twitter: @AASuicidology LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aasuicidology/  Episode highlights: [0:00] Intro [1:44] Who is Leeann Sherman? [6:22] Look for ways to improve people's lives [8:08] The challenges faced by our youth [16:38] Recognizing signs of suicide and prevention [29:42] Understanding and Supporting Youth Mental Health [40:58] They need someone to talk to [46:59] Outro

Hello and welcome to The Relatable Voice podcast! Today, we are driving to Washington DC to talk with Dr. David Jobes. Dr. Jobes is a Professor of Psychology, Director of the Suicide Prevention Laboratory, and Associate Director of Clinical Training at The Catholic University of America. He has also served as the President of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) and has received various awards for his scientific contributions. His latest book, "Managing Suicidal Risk: A Collaborative Approach," is available now. Find out more at: https://cams-care.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cams-care/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello and welcome to The Relatable Voice podcast! Today, we are driving to Washington DC to talk with Dr. David Jobes. Dr. Jobes is a Professor of Psychology, Director of the Suicide Prevention Laboratory, and Associate Director of Clinical Training at The Catholic University of America. He has also served as the President of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) and has received various awards for his scientific contributions. His latest book, "Managing Suicidal Risk: A Collaborative Approach," is available now. Find out more at: https://cams-care.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cams-care/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About Today's GuestsDr. Heidi KraftHeidi Squier Kraft received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the UC San Diego/SDSU Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology in 1996. She joined the Navy during her internship at Duke University Medical Center and went on to serve as both a flight and clinical psychologist. Her active duty assignments included the Naval Safety Center, the Naval Health Research Center and Naval Hospital Jacksonville, FL. While on flight status, she flew in nearly every aircraft in the Navy and Marine Corps inventory, including more than 100 hours in the F/A-18 Hornet, primarily with Marine Corps squadrons. In February 2004, she deployed to western Iraq for seven months with a Marine Corps surgical company, when her boy and girl twins were 15-months-old. Rule Number Two is a memoir of that experience.Dr. Kraft left active duty in 2005, after nine years in the Navy. She currently serves as Chief Clinical Officer at PsychArmor Institute, a national non-profit that provides free online education for those who live with, care for, and work with military Veterans. She is frequently invited to speak at conferences and panels on combat stress, stigma and caring for the caregiver. She is a lecturer at San Diego State University, where she teaches Stress, Trauma and the Psychological Experience of Combat, Health Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Infant and Child Development. Dr. Kraft lives in San Diego with her husband Mike, a former Marine Harrier pilot. Her twins Brian and Meg, who have no memory of their mother's time in Iraq, are college freshmen now.Dr. Ted BonarTed C. Bonar, Psy.D. is a clinical psychologist and a nationally recognized trainer and speaker at conferences and universities. An independent professional based in Columbus, OH, he operates a successful private practice and is known as a Subject Matter Expert in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide, and matters related to military and veteran mental health concerns. He serves on the Healthcare Advisory Committee for PsychArmor Institute, and was previously the Chief of Continuing Education Programs at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) where he oversaw and implemented training programs focused on common military-related behavioral healthcare concerns, evidence-based treatment of PTSD, and suicide prevention and treatment. He is also a National Trainer trainer in Mental Health First Aid.Dr. Bonar has spoken at over 200 universities, national conferences, and continuing education events, including special projects for Brady United, PsychArmor Institute, the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO), the American Association of Suicidology (AAS), the National Center for Veterans Studies at the University of Utah, PsychHub, Inc., and the National Council for Behavioral Health. Dr. Bonar has held clinical positions at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago, The Ohio State University Counseling and Consultation Service, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Counseling Center, and private practice in both Bethesda, MD and Columbus, OH. Dr. Bonar was awarded the 2013 Distinguished Alum award by the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University/Chicago.Dr. Kyleanne HunterDr. Kyleanne Hunter is an Assistant Professor of Military and Strategic Studies at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA). She is also a Nonresident Fellow at the Brute Krulak Center for Innovation and Creativity at Marine Corps University and a Senior Adjunct Fellow at the Center for New American Security (CNAS). Kyleanne is the former Chair of the Employment and Integration Subcommittee for the Secretary of Defense's Advisory Committee on Women in the Services. Her research focuses on military gender integration and defense policy, with an emphasis on military effectiveness in irregular warfare. She is the co-director of the CNAS-sponsored Athena Leadership Project, which studies the impact that women (both in the military and elected office) have had on the conduct of the Global War on Terror. She has authored several government policy reports, peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and has a forthcoming book. Her work has also appeared in popular press such as New York Times, Washington Post, War on the Rocks, and she has appeared as a subject matter expert on multiple TV new programs. Prior to earning her PhD, Kyleanne was a Marine Corps Officer, serving multiple combat tours as an AH-1W “Super Cobra” attack pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan, and as the Marine Corps Legislative Liaison Officer to the House of Representatives. She was part of the Department of Veterans' Affairs Inaugural Class of Women Trailblazers and member of the board of advisors for the Stanley Center funded IMPACT: Peace program.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeStack UpVeterans, Suicide Prevention, and Safe Storage Twitch StreamDr. Hunter's USAFA PageDr. Bonar's Web PageDr. Kraft's PsychArmor PageClinical Readiness ProjectBradyPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week's PsychArmor resource of the week, is the PsychArmor ourses related to Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention. Suicide in America is a critical issue, with high rates in service members and Veterans. Asking the right questions and feeling confident about how to help are the first steps in preventing someone from dying by suicide. We hope these courses will help you to be a lifeline and be there for someone in need.With generous funding from the NFL Foundation, PsychArmor Institute presents a portfolio that promises to provide vital education and information about Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention for healthcare providers, service members, Veterans, families, caregivers and the community-at-large.  You can find the link to this resource here: https://psycharmor.org/suicide-prevention-intervention-postvention/ This Episode Sponsored By: This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music Don't Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

In this episode, we focus on common misconceptions and myths about suicide. ---This is episode 1 of the series: Facts and Myths About Suicide Suicide is often one of the most challenging subjects for healthcare providers to broach, yet it is an integral part of patient safety. The number of annual suicides in the United States translates to an average of one person every 11.1 minutes and one attempt every 26.6 seconds. It is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 34 (American Association of Suicidology [AAS], 2021). This podcast series was developed to help healthcare professionals understand the myths surrounding suicide and to provide healthcare providers with strategies to effectively assess if a person is at risk of suicide.    At Colibri Healthcare, we developed this educational content with a genuine approach to bringing attention to mental illness from a healthcare provider's perspective. This podcast series contains content that may be unsettling to some listeners. Each episode involves an in-depth discussion of suicide, depression, and self-harm. We do our best to discuss sensitive topics such as these with discretion and sincerity. Because of the sensitive topics being discussed, we recommend this podcast series for adults only. Content Warnings: Mentions of depression, death, suicide, firearms, overdose, and strangulation. Nurses may be able to complete an accredited CE activity featuring content from this podcast and earn CE hours provided from Elite Learning by Colibri Healthcare. For more information, click hereView Episode Show NotesView Episode Transcript Already an Elite Member? Login hereLearn more about CE Podcasts from Elite Learning by Colibri HealthcareView this podcast course on Elite Learning Series: Facts and Myths About Suicide 

In this episode, we focus on risk factors of suicide and discuss strategies for effectively assessing the suicide risk of a patient. ---This is episode 2 of the series: Facts and Myths About SuicideSuicide is often one of the most challenging subjects for healthcare providers to broach, yet it is an integral part of patient safety. The number of annual suicides in the United States translates to an average of one person every 11.1 minutes and one attempt every 26.6 seconds. It is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 34 (American Association of Suicidology [AAS], 2021). This podcast series was developed to help healthcare professionals understand the myths surrounding suicide and to provide healthcare providers with strategies to effectively assess if a person is at risk of suicide.    At Colibri Healthcare, we developed this educational content with a genuine approach to bringing attention to mental illness from a healthcare provider's perspective. This podcast series contains content that may be unsettling to some listeners. Each episode involves an in-depth discussion of suicide, depression, and self-harm. We do our best to discuss sensitive topics such as these with discretion and sincerity. Because of the sensitive topics being discussed, we recommend this podcast series for adults only. Content Warnings: Mentions of depression, death, suicide, firearms, overdose, and strangulation.Nurses may be able to complete an accredited CE activity featuring content from this podcast and earn CE hours provided from Elite Learning by Colibri Healthcare. For more information, click hereView Episode Show NotesView Episode Transcript Already an Elite Member? Login hereLearn more about CE Podcasts from Elite Learning by Colibri HealthcareView this podcast course on Elite Learning Series: Facts and Myths About Suicide 

During this episode, I talk with Norine Vander Hooven (she/her), LCSW, EMDRIA Certified and Approved Consultant, about how to discuss the topic of suicidal thoughts with clients and how to assess for suicidal risk. This is a topic most therapists feel nervous having, and we give you the language to use to begin having these conversations more comfortably.  Norine served as the Youth Suicide Prevention Chair for the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) for three years (2017-2020). She is certified in EMDR therapy and is also an Approved EMDR consultant. Norine's areas of expertise are complex trauma, suicide, EMDR Intensives, Intensives for CEOs and high-level executives, and consultation for therapists.Norine is also the founder and owner of Westlake Trauma & Resilience. They provide EMDR therapy and Intensive EMDR Therapy. She is licensed in California and Nevada.TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:Facing the fear of asking about suicidal thoughts Active vs Passive Suicidal thoughts – how to explain this to clientsConfronting clients fear of involuntary hospitalization and getting “grippy socks”When clients get quiet or animated, pay attention Recommended suicide risk assessmentsOur language matters when talking about suicide. Here is what to say and not to say. Times of year when suicide risk increasesOFFERS & HELPFUL LINKS:·       Norine's offer: 6 hr Suicide Risk Assessment Course for $89 plus approx $36 for CE credit Westlake Trauma & Resilience and EMDR Consultation website ·       Jennifer Agee coaching page·       Counseling Community Facebook community·       Counseling Community Instagram·       Alaskan Cruise: Experiential Therapeutic Intervention Training for Therapists June 3-10, 2023·       Cabo, Mexico: Dreamer's Retreat for Entrepreneurial Therapists October 6-8, 2022

In this interview, Dave discusses his career in researching suicide and how Marsha Lineman encouraged him to go beyond his assessment work to create an intervention for therapists working with clients who are suicidal. He discusses how many therapists struggle to know how to effectively assess suicide risk and intervene in a manner that can build the therapeutic relationship as well as keep clients safe. He explains that due to lack of training, knowledge of evidence-based interventions, and fear, therapists often jump to hospitalizing their clients, when it may not be necessary, and he challenges the overall utility and effectiveness of hospitalization altogether. Dave discusses his clinical tool and intervention, the Suicide Status Form (SSF-4) and his Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), which have been found to decrease suicidal risk in patients through randomized controlled trials. He explains that therapists can effectively treat suicidality through collaboration, being clear and transparent on the limits of confidentiality and what may lead to a hospitalization. His intervention helps reduce access to lethal means as well as the value of identifying and treating patient-defined "drivers" for suicide, which research shows leads to decreasing hopelessness while increasing hope. The topics of suicidal ideation vs. suicidal intent are discussed and how ideation in itself is sometimes a form of coping. He speaks to the most feared situations where the therapist is not sure if the client can be sufficiently stable for outpatient care, and he addresses cases in which clients who take their life despite all clinical best efforts. Dave encourages therapists to become more competent in suicide assessment and treatment, because even though clinicians may screen for suicide when accepting patients, it is inevitable that they will have clients who are suicidal. He argues that suicide risk being "not something I work with,” is a problematic stance as it reflects an unwillingness to work with the one fatality of mental health. 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. Dave is also an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, at Uniformed Services University. He has published six books and numerous peer-reviewed journal articles. Dave is a past President of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) and he is the recipient of various awards for his scientific work including the 1995 AAS “Shneidman Award” (early career contribution to suicidology), the 2012 AAS “Dublin Award” (for career contributions in suicidology), and the 2016 AAS “Linehan Award” (for suicide treatment research). He has been a consultant to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Institute of Mental Health, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and he now serves as a “Highly Qualified Expert” to the U.S. Army's Intelligence and Security Command. Dave is a Board Member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and serves on AFSP's Scientific Council and the Public Policy Council. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and is Board certified in clinical psychology (American Board of Professional Psychology). Dave maintains a private clinical and consulting practice in Washington DC; clinicians can get trained in the CAMS evidence-based treatment at https://cams-care.com/.

Join us for an amazing interview with the founder of "A Voice at the Table!" Annemarie Matulis is a survivor of childhood trauma and adult domestic violence and has spent 35 years balancing careers in the public, private and non-profit sectors including domestic violence, substance misuse and suicide prevention. With decades of experience as a community activist, advocate and organizer, she is a recognized change agent within public health in the United States. Emotionally impacted by the suicidal crisis of a mentee, she co-founded, with that mentee Tracey Medeiros, A Voice at the Table, a grassroots, soul-care movement for the family/friends emotionally impacted by the suicidal crises of a loved one. An educator, trainer, curriculum developer, Matulis sits on the Executive Committee of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS). She is the Director of the AAS Impacted Family & Friends Division and member of the newly created Lived Experience Advisory Committee for the US national Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC.org). Matulis is producer of two documentaries A Voice at the Table (2014) and Voices Still Unheard (2016) which are focused on suicide attempt survivors and their impacted families. In 2013/2014, she co-developed a psych-educational, wellness check workshop series for attempt & loss survivors further along the recovery path, Re-Energize & Re-Connect, and a retreat workshop series for the impacted family, Finding Inner Peace. These were developed to help fill the vacuum of protective factor resources. This project has continued to grow and expand. Annemarie Matulis: Executive Committee, American Association of Suicidology (AAS) Director, AAS Impacted Family & Friends Division Co-Founder, A Voice at the Table - a national movement for family & friends impacted by a loved one's suicidal experiences (AVATT) https://www.avoiceatthetable.org director@avoiceatthetable.org Executive Committee, Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention (MCSP) https://www.masspreventssuicide.org/ Member, International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) Suicide prevention, intervention & postvention educator & trainer, certified grief facilitator, author, documentary producer, public speaker matulisannie@msn.com https://twitter.com/AnnemarieMatul1 https://www.facebook.com/A-Voice-at-the-Table-645572688861558 https://www.facebook.com/Impacted-Family-Friends-103914274677059 https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariematulis/ http://www.avoiceatthetable.org/index.html ************************ Your Host - Brad Richard Scars & Stripes Coffee: https://www.ss.coffee/bradrichard YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/y7uzojak Manat50 School: https://brad-s-school-4d92.thinkific.com Website: https://www.bradrichard.net --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/manat50/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/manat50/support

About Today's GuestsDr. Heidi KraftHeidi Squier Kraft received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the UC San Diego/SDSU Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology in 1996. She joined the Navy during her internship at Duke University Medical Center and went on to serve as both a flight and clinical psychologist. Her active duty assignments included the Naval Safety Center, the Naval Health Research Center and Naval Hospital Jacksonville, FL. While on flight status, she flew in nearly every aircraft in the Navy and Marine Corps inventory, including more than 100 hours in the F/A-18 Hornet, primarily with Marine Corps squadrons. In February 2004, she deployed to western Iraq for seven months with a Marine Corps surgical company, when her boy and girl twins were 15-months-old. Rule Number Two is a memoir of that experience.Dr. Kraft left active duty in 2005, after nine years in the Navy. She currently serves as Chief Clinical Officer at PsychArmor Institute, a national non-profit that provides free online education for those who live with, care for, and work with military Veterans. She is frequently invited to speak at conferences and panels on combat stress, stigma and caring for the caregiver. She is a lecturer at San Diego State University, where she teaches Stress, Trauma and the Psychological Experience of Combat, Health Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Infant and Child Development. Dr. Kraft lives in San Diego with her husband Mike, a former Marine Harrier pilot. Her twins Brian and Meg, who have no memory of their mother's time in Iraq, are college freshmen now.Dr. Ted BonarTed C. Bonar, Psy.D. is a clinical psychologist and a nationally recognized trainer and speaker at conferences and universities. An independent professional based in Columbus, OH, he operates a successful private practice and is known as a Subject Matter Expert in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide, and matters related to military and veteran mental health concerns. He serves on the Healthcare Advisory Committee for PsychArmor Institute, and was previously the Chief of Continuing Education Programs at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) where he oversaw and implemented training programs focused on common military-related behavioral healthcare concerns, evidence-based treatment of PTSD, and suicide prevention and treatment. He is also a National Trainer trainer in Mental Health First Aid.Dr. Bonar has spoken at over 200 universities, national conferences, and continuing education events, including special projects for Brady United, PsychArmor Institute, the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO), the American Association of Suicidology (AAS), the National Center for Veterans Studies at the University of Utah, PsychHub, Inc., and the National Council for Behavioral Health. Dr. Bonar has held clinical positions at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago, The Ohio State University Counseling and Consultation Service, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Counseling Center, and private practice in both Bethesda, MD and Columbus, OH. Dr. Bonar was awarded the 2013 Distinguished Alum award by the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University/Chicago.Dr. Kyleanne HunterDr. Kyleanne Hunter is an Assistant Professor of Military and Strategic Studies at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA). She is also a Nonresident Fellow at the Brute Krulak Center for Innovation and Creativity at Marine Corps University and a Senior Adjunct Fellow at the Center for New American Security (CNAS). Kyleanne is the former Chair of the Employment and Integration Subcommittee for the Secretary of Defense's Advisory Committee on Women in the Services. Her research focuses on military gender integration and defense policy, with an emphasis on military effectiveness in irregular warfare. She is the co-director of the CNAS-sponsored Athena Leadership Project, which studies the impact that women (both in the military and elected office) have had on the conduct of the Global War on Terror. She has authored several government policy reports, peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and has a forthcoming book. Her work has also appeared in popular press such as New York Times, Washington Post, War on the Rocks, and she has appeared as a subject matter expert on multiple TV new programs. Prior to earning her PhD, Kyleanne was a Marine Corps Officer, serving multiple combat tours as an AH-1W “Super Cobra” attack pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan, and as the Marine Corps Legislative Liaison Officer to the House of Representatives. She was part of the Department of Veterans' Affairs Inaugural Class of Women Trailblazers and member of the board of advisors for the Stanley Center funded IMPACT: Peace program.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeStack UpVeterans, Suicide Prevention, and Safe Storage Twitch StreamDr. Hunter's USAFA PageDr. Bonar's Web PageDr. Kraft's PsychArmor PageClinical Readiness ProjectBradyPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThe PsychArmor resource for this week are the courses related to suicide prevention, intervention and postvention. Suicide in America is a critical issue, with high rates in service members and Veterans. Asking the right questions and feeling confident about how to help are the first steps in preventing someone from dying by suicide. We hope these courses will help you to be a lifeline and be there for someone in need.With generous funding from the NFL Foundation, PsychArmor Institute presents a portfolio that promises to provide vital education and information about Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention for healthcare providers, service members, Veterans, families, caregivers and the community-at-large. This Episode Sponsored By:This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations. Join Us on Social Media PsychArmor on Twitter PsychArmor on Facebook PsychArmor on YouTube PsychArmor on LinkedIn PsychArmor on Instagram Theme Music Our theme music Don't Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.

In this episode Lisa, Mary and I got a chance to talk about what their experience is regarding living with PTSD while also having autism. We talked about common traumatic events, different responses to trauma based on neurology, how those with ASD can be more vulnerable, research in this area, and what we all can do to help.Lisa Morgan is a Certified Autism Specialist (CAS) and holds a Master's degree in the Art of Teaching in Special Education. She has previously authored Living Through Suicide Loss with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (JKP 2016) and is a senior editor for the Spectrum Women online magazine. She also is co-chair of the Autism and Suicide committee of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS).You can learn more about Lisa and her work at:https://autism-crisis-support.com/Mary P. Donahue, Ph.D is a psychologist specializing in trauma and loss and working in private practice. She is a collaborator for The Center for Grieving Children and has developed specialized 'Providing a Safe Shoulder' training for helpers wishing to assist victims of domestic abuse. She is also a Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Volunteer, and is the author of three books for teens on bullying, disability and domestic violence.

Centuries of discrimination and brutality have led to historical trauma impacting generations of people of color in the United States. Add to this significant current trauma of racially fueled violence the fact that communities of color experience disparities in access to qualified care, and it's not surprising that we are seeing increased despair among BIPOC people. We are also seeing incredible resilience — at the individual and communal levels — and creativity as people of color find ways to cope. In this interview, Vic Armstrong and I talk about many hot topics:Complex trauma in Black communitiesSystematic racism and the treatment gaps in servicesThe trends in Black suicide ratesThe shifting role of the Black church in suicide preventionDistrust, crisis services and communities of colorVic Armstrong headshot B&W.pngAbout Vic ArmstrongTwitter: https://twitter.com/1of2vics Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victor.armstrong.96343 Victor Armstrong joined North Carolina DHHS as ‪Director of the NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, Substance Abuse Services in March of 2020, with responsibility and oversight of the public community-based mental health, intellectual and other developmental disabilities, substance use, and traumatic brain injury system in North Carolina. Prior to accepting this role, Victor spent six years as Vice President of Behavioral Health with Atrium Health. Based in Charlotte, NC Victor had responsibility for operations of Atrium's largest behavioral health hospital, Behavioral Health Charlotte (BHC). The BHC campus contains the southeast's only psychiatric emergency department, staffed 24/7 with board certified psychiatrists, as well as 66 inpatient beds, and 10 outpatient programs. Victor has over 30 years of experience in human services, primarily dedicated to building and strengthening community resources to serve individuals living with mental illness. Victor currently serves on the board of directors of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) NC. He is also former board chair of NAMI NC, and a member of American Association of Suicidology (AAS), and NASW-NC. Victor is a former member of the Board of Directors of National Council for Behavioral Health, i2i Center for Integrative Health, and RI International. Victor's awards and recognitions include 2019 Black Mental Health Symposium -Mental Health Advocate of the Year, 2019 Atrium Health Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion Award, 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award from East Carolina University School of Social Work, Pride Magazine 2018 "Best of the Best", and i2i Center for Integrative Health 2018 Innovation Award for "Whole Person Care", 2012 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) NC, Mental Health Professional of the Year. Victor graduated, Magna Cum Laude, from North Carolina Central University with a bachelor's degree in Business Management and received a Master of Social Work (MSW) from East Carolina University. He is the husband of Dr. Charletta Armstrong and the father of 3 sons, Carter, Alonzo, and Victor Jr.for more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/hope-illuminated-podcast/71

Every year on September 10th, individuals and organizations in over 50 countries connect and work together to prevent suicide, by supporting those who are struggling and to help those who are grieving. This year we will address this topic with Barbara Rubel the author of the fictional novel "But I Didn't Say Goodbye – Helping Families after a Suicide".  In her reader-friendly and well researched book, she addresses the loss of her father through suicide in a meaningful and thought provoking read, and discusses WHAT she learned in the process of grieving and healing. Barbara will share her unique approach to suicide prevention and post-vention, on how can develop personal resiliency and reclaim hope after loss in this month's "Bear Psychology radio show" on Realityradio101.com program. Whether you know someone who has attempted or completed suicide, or felt so much despair that you have considered it yourself ... we want to open up the dialogue today about this important topic. Let's start by clarifying that whatever is going on in your life today, the pain of the moment can elevate us to open up and and there are many people and sources of information that can provide relief. We will begin the conversation with two numbers and resource links so we have a safe reference point right from the start: In Canada: https://suicideprevention.ca/WSPD 1.833.456.4566 In the U.S.: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/  1-800-273-8255 We will discuss: The WHY of suicide Reflect on feelings of anger, guilt and grief Barbara's own experience of losing her father to suicide and how she was able to reconstruct meaning into her life after such a sudden loss Learn about her unique Dual Process Model and 4 Tasks of Grief and apply them to the impact of suicide loss Does the current COVID-19 Pandemic complicate grief from suicide of someone in your life? Barbara will reflect from the lens of her own tragic loss and personal experience. What do you do when your father dies by suicide while you are in the hospital awaiting the birth of your triplets? What do you do when you can't attend your father's funeral because physician orders include complete bed rest? What do you do when you realize that you experienced a devastating loss and that you are not alone in that experience? You write a book and dedicate your life to helping others affected by suicide. Barbara Rubel's fictional characters in "But I Didn't Say Goodbye" are a compilation of what individuals may experience throughout their lifetime as a suicide loss survivor. "But I Didn't Say Goodbye: Helping Families After a Suicide" tells the story, from the perspective of an eleven-year-old boy Alex and his family, as they are rocked by suicide and reeling from the aftermath. Through Alex's eyes, the reader sees the transformation of feelings after going through death by suicide. New to the book's 3rd edition, each chapter ends with Alex reflecting 10 years later on his experience, introducing family members and friends in his recollections. Barbara Rubel has combined our modern academic theories of grieving, and the research that supports those theories, and then translated them into a readable story for anyone bereaved by suicide. The revised edition is an evidence-informed and contemporary treatment of a devastating form of loss that uses the artful device of a hypothetical case study to render it in human terms. Through the story, the reader understands what losing someone to suicide might be like for a family, how to make meaning of the loss, and ways to experience personal growth. This self-help book was revised to provide guidance and education for clinicians and families to help suicide loss survivors. Links & Resources: But I Didn't Say Goodbye: Helping Families After a Suicide (3ed.) (2020), NJ: Griefwork Center, Inc. https://amzn.to/2FwS6JI Loss, Grief, and Bereavement: Helping Individuals Cope (4ed) (2019), MA: Western Schools https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-yourself/ https://suicideprevention.ca/Need-Help https://www.helpguide.org/articles/suicide-prevention/suicide-prevention.htm https://www.ted.com/talks/jeremy_forbes_how_to_start_a_conversation_about_suicide? https://www.ted.com/search?q=suicide++ Suicide Postvention Resources listed in the new and updated edition of But I Didn’t Say Goodbye: Helping Families After a Suicide (3rd ed.) by Barbara Rubel After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools (2nd): https://afsp.org/our-work/education/after-a-suicide-a-toolkit-for-schools/ After a Suicide: A Postvention Primer for Providers: tripod.com/After_a_Suicide.pdf After a Suicide: Religious Services: https://theactionalliance.org/faith-hope-life/after-suicide-recommendations-religious-services-and-other-public-memorial-observances A Guide for Medical Examiners and Coroners: Best Practices for Talking with Families About Suicide https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/a0415f_3160611bae3f4be69c8e86b1ec7ed4ce.pdf Alex Blackwood Foundation for Hope (Camp Alex): com Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors: org American Academy of Bereavement: com American Association of Suicidology (AAS): org AAS-Helping Survivors of Suicide: What Can You Do? https://www.preventionlane.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Hepling-Survivors-of-Suicide_What-Can-You-Do.pdf American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): org AFSP-Children, Teens and Suicide Loss: https://afsp.org/wp-content/flipbooks/childrenteenssuicideloss/?page=1 AFSP-Healing Conversations: Personal Support for Survivors of Suicide Loss: org/find-support/ive-lost-someone/healing-conversations/ Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC): The Thanatology Association: org Befrienders Worldwide: org/ Best Practices for Talking About Suicide for Medical Examiners and Coroners: https://www.mecrecs.org/ Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/suicide-prevention/understanding-suicide-and-grief/supporting-a-loved-one-after-they-have-lost-someone-to-suicide Breaking the Silence in the Workplace: http://www.sprc.org/sites/default/files/migrate/library/Breaking%20the%20Silence%20Final.pdf California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions: After Rural Suicide: A Guide for Coordinated Community Postvention Response: https://www.cibhs.org/sites/main/files/file-attachments/after_rural_suicide_guide_2016rev.pdf Camp Kita: Children’s Bereavement Camp for Suicide Loss Survivors: https://campkita.com/ Carson J. Spencer Foundation: org The Catholic Charities: Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide: https://www.catholiccharities.net/GetHelp/OurServices/Counseling/Loss.aspx The Center for Complicated Grief: https://complicatedgrief.columbia.edu/professionals/complicated-grief professionals/overview/ Center for Grief and Loss: org/ Center for Suicide Awareness: https://www.centerforsuicideawareness.org/ Centering Corporation: org/ Clinicians as Survivors: After a Suicide Loss:/pages.iu.edu/~jmcintos/basicinfo.htm  Comfort Zone Camp: https://www.comfortzonecamp.org/ Compassion Books: compassionbooks.com Compassionate Friends: Surviving Your Child’s Suicide: https://www.compassionatefriends.org/surviving-childs-suicide/ Cope Foundation: org/ Davenee Foundation: org/ Digital Memorial Quilts: org/find-support/ive-lost-someone/digital-memory-quilt/create-a-new-quilt-square/ The Dougy Center: National Center for Grieving Children and Families: org/ Emma’s Place of Staten Island: emmasplacesi.com/ Find a Suicide Loss Survivors Support Group: org/find-support/ive-lost-someone/find-a-support-group/ Friends for Survival: Offering Help After a Suicide Death: org/ The Gift of Second: http://thegiftofsecond.com/ The Glendon Association: org/ Griefwork Center, Inc. Suicide Postvention Speaker Services griefworkcenter.com Heartbeat: https://www.heartbeatsurvivorsaftersuicide.org/ Help at Hand: A Guide for Funeral Directors: http://www.sprc.org/sites/default/files/migrate/library/funeraldirectors.pdf Hope Squad: com/postvention/ How to Talk to Kids About Suicide: https://drrobynsilverman.com/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-suicide-with-dr-dan-reidenberg/ International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP): info/postvention.php International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies: org The Jason Foundation: jasonfoundation.com The JED Foundation: org/ The Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center: org Kara: kara-grief.org/support-for/adults/ Lifesavers Blog-AFSP: https://afsp.org/lifesaver-blog/ LOSS Team: com/ A Manager’s Guide to Suicide Postvention in the Workplace: org/Portals/14/docs/Survivors/Loss%20Survivors/Managers-Guidebook-To-Suicide-Postvention.pdf Mental Health America: net/ Moyer Foundation (Camp Erin): moyerfoundation.org National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention: Recommended Standard Care for People with Suicide Risk: Making Health Care Suicide Safe: org/sites/actionallianceforsuicideprevention.org/files/Action%20Alliance%20Recommended%20Standard%20Care%20FINAL.pdf National Alliance for Grieving Children: org/ National Alliance on Mental Illness: org/ National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN): nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/traumatic-grief  NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, Postvention: A guide for response to suicide on college campuses https://www.naspa.org/focus-areas/mental-health/postvention-a-guide-for-response-to-suicide-on-college-campuses  National Organization for Victim Assistance: org National Center for Victims of Crime: org/ National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 24/7, Free and Confidential Support: 1-800-273-TALK (8255); for Hard of Hearing 1-800-799-4889; en Español 1-888-628-9454  org/ National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Lifeline Online Postvention Manual http://www.sprc.org/sites/default/files/migrate/library/LifelineOnlinePostventionManual.pdf Open to Hope: com/ Our Side of Suicide: http://www.oursideofsuicide.com/ Parents of Suicides/Friends & Families of Suicides: pos-ffos.com/ Pastoral Postvention: https://theactionalliance.org/sites/default/files/fhl_competencies_v8_interactive.pdf Posttraumatic Growth Research Group: uncc.edu/ The Public Health Approach to Prevention org/sites/sprc.org/files/library/phasp.pdf QPR Institute for Suicide Prevention: qprinstitute.com/ Reach Out.com: reachout.com/loss-and-grief/supporting-a-friend-after-someone-dies-from-suicide/ Riverside Trauma Center: http://traumacenter.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Postventionguidelines.pdf SAFE-T Pocket Guides for Clinicians: samhsa.gov/product/Suicide-Assessment-Five-Step-Evaluation-and-Triage-SAFE-T-Pocket-Card-for-Clinicians/SMA09-4432 The Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/ NYC: org/MA: samaritanshope.org/  Sibling Survivors of Suicide Loss: com/ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: samhsa.gov/ Suicide Attempt Survivors Task Force of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention: org/sites/actionallianceforsuicideprevention.org/files/The-Way-Forward-Final-2014-07-01.pdf Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE): org Suicide: Finding Hope: com/ Suicide Grief Support Forum: com/ Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC): org SPRC Toolkit for Schools http://www.sprc.org/resources-programs/after-suicide-toolkit-schools Suicide Safe:org/sites/actionallianceforsuicideprevention.org/files/Action%20Alliance%20Recommended%20Standard%20Care%20FINAL.pdf Suicide Safety Plan: com Support After a Suicide: org.au/ Surviving After a Suicide Loss Blog: https://survivingafterasuicide.com/blog/ Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS): https://www.taps.org/suicidepostvention Trauma Institute & Child Trauma Institute: com/ Trevor Project (LGBTQ): org/ United Suicide Survivors International: https://unitesurvivors.org/ Violent Death Bereavement Society: org/html/director.html Yellow Ribbon: org/ Zero Suicide in Health and Behavioral Health Care Toolkit: zerosuicide.sprc.org/toolkit 

Listen in as Colleen Creighton introduce you to the work of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) – a PsychU Supporting Organization. Ms. Creighton shares statistics about suicide in the United States, a brief overview of the mission of AAS, their organization’s initiatives to spread suicide awareness, and their advocacy efforts for prevention-based initiatives. Founded in 1968 by Dr. Edwin S.Shneidman, AAS is a not-for-profit organization that promotes research, public awareness programs, public education, and training for professionals and volunteers. AAS also serves as a national clearinghouse for information on suicide. Their key mission? To promote the understanding and prevention of suicide and to support those who have been affected by it through an inclusive community that works toward a world where people know how to prevent suicide, find hope, and heal. Membership of AAS includes mental health and public health professionals, researchers, suicide prevention and crisis intervention centers, school districts, crisis center volunteers, survivors of suicide loss, attempt survivors, and a variety of lay persons who have an interest in suicide prevention. Colleen Creighton is the Executive Director of AAS. Prior to joining AAS in June 2017, Ms. Creighton served as Executive Director for the Alliance for Consumer Education, and as Director of CHPA Educational Foundation. Before her work in the nonprofit foundation market, Ms. Creighton was an elementary, middle, and secondary-level Civics Teacher. She received a MA in East European Studies from the Freie Universität Berlin and a BA in Political Science from the Catholic University of America. MRC2.CORP.X.03478

Listen in as Colleen Creighton introduce you to the work of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) – a PsychU Supporting Organization. Ms. Creighton shares statistics about suicide in the United States, a brief overview of the mission of AAS, their organization’s initiatives to spread suicide awareness, and their advocacy efforts for prevention-based initiatives. Founded in 1968 by Dr. Edwin S. Shneidman, AAS is a not-for-profit organization that promotes research, public awareness programs, public education, and training for professionals and volunteers. AAS also serves as a national clearinghouse for information on suicide. Their key mission? To promote the understanding and prevention of suicide and to support those who have been affected by it through an inclusive community that works toward a world where people know how to prevent suicide, find hope, and heal. Membership of AAS includes mental health and public health professionals, researchers, suicide prevention and crisis intervention centers, school districts, crisis center volunteers, survivors of suicide loss, attempt survivors, and a variety of lay persons who have an interest in suicide prevention. Colleen Creighton is the Executive Director of AAS. Prior to joining AAS in June 2017, Ms. Creighton served as Executive Director for the Alliance for Consumer Education, and as Director of CHPA Educational Foundation. Before her work in the nonprofit foundation market, Ms. Creighton was an elementary, middle, and secondary-level Civics Teacher. She received a MA in East European Studies from the Freie Universität Berlin and a BA in Political Science from the Catholic University of America.

Suicide Prevention Resource Center Director Elly Stout is a public health professional with extensive experience in suicide prevention, social marketing, and health promotion with diverse populations. She works with diverse audiences, national partners, and stakeholders to support capacity building and infrastructure development in states, organisations, health systems, and communities to reduce suicide deaths and attempts across the United States. With nearly 20 years’ experience in public health, she currently directs the SAMHSA-funded Suicide Prevention Resource Center, the only federally funded resource center in the United States dedicated to advancing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Her skills include strategic planning and communication, financial analysis and budget management, fundraising and donor relations, and team leadership and human resources management. Before coming to EDC, she worked domestically and internationally in HIV/AIDS prevention and maternal and child health, as well as with immigrant and refugee health programs. She shares her key insight of what she wishes everyone working in suicide prevention know, and her best advice for people looking to get started in suicide prevention, with SPA General Manager Nikki Kelso at the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) conference in Washington, DC, USA. Find out more about the Suicide Prevention Resource Center at https://www.sprc.org/ Visit the newly launched Australian Suicide Prevention Hub at https://suicidepreventionhub.org.au

Sadé Heart of the Hawk Ali, Tribal Lead for the Zero Suicide Institute talks with SPA General Manager Nikki Kelso at the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) conference in Washington, DC, USA.  Heart of the Hawk is a First Nations Mi'kmaq (northern USA and southern Canada) who identifies as Two Spirit. She has been in the behavioural health field for almost fifty years and, for the past 2 decades has dedicated her life not only to her own healing from intergenerational and historical trauma, but to also educating others on the impact of trauma on her People. She is a pow wow dancer, a shawl maker, president of First Nations, LLC, and a lifetime member of SAIGE (Society of American Indian Government Employees).  She speaks about why it is essential to involve First Nations peoples in all suicide prevention efforts. Find out more about the AAS Conference at http://www.suicidology.org/Annual-Conference/51st-Annual-Conference Talking openly about suicide is so important, however this can bring up difficult emotions. Please reach out to a trusted family member or friend if you need to talk about how you're feeling - or one of our trusted colleagues: * Lifeline 13 11 14   * Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467   * Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800   * MensLine 1300 78 99 78   * beyondblue 1300 22 4636   * Qlife 1800 184 527   For a comprehensive list of support available to you in Australia, visit www.suicidepreventionaust.org and click on the Get Help button.

SPA General Manager Nikki Kelso interviews Dr Julie Cerel, President of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) at their annual conference held this week in Washington, DC, USA. Dr. Cerel is a licensed clinical psychologist and Professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky. Her research has focused on suicide bereavement, suicide attempt survivors and suicide prevention. She completed her PhD from The Ohio State University, an internship and post-doctoral fellowship from West Virginia University and a post-doctoral fellowship specifically in suicide prevention from University of Rochester. She has served as Research Division Chair and Board Chair of American Association of Suicidology. She is the author of over 50 academic publications and co-author of Seeking Hope: Stories of the Suicide Bereaved. Her work has been funded by the Military Suicide Research Consortium from the U.S. Department of Defense, the CDC, SAMHSA, SPAN-USA and AFSP. She is a Board member and former chair, Kentucky Suicide Prevention Group, Inc. and Editorial Board Member, Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior. Dr. Cerel mentors and collaborates with a diverse group of undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students at UK and internationally.  At the conference, Dr Cerel reinforced #not6 research that debunked the previously commonly reported statistic that for every person who dies by suicide, six people are deeply affected.   Find out more about the AAS Conference at http://www.suicidology.org/Annual-Conference/51st-Annual-Conference Talking openly about suicide is so important, however this can bring up difficult emotions. Please reach out to a trusted family member or friend if you need to talk about how you're feeling - or one of our trusted colleagues:  * Lifeline 13 11 14  * Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467  * Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800  * MensLine 1300 78 99 78  * beyondblue 1300 22 4636  * Qlife 1800 184 527  For a comprehensive list of support available to you in Australia, visit www.suicidepreventionaust.org and click on the Get Help button.

"This process of accepting that your loved one has hurt other people. And accepting who that is and what it means to be a mother of someone like that, it takes not only months but years." Sue Klebold is forever tied to a tragic day marked down in American history, April 20, 1999. It was on that day two gunmen entered Columbine High School and killed 12 students, a teacher and wounded two dozen others. One of the shooters was her son, Dylan. After an excruciating journey, Sue has come to a place of peace and is using her life to honor the lives of those who died, raise awareness for mental health issues and do what she could to prevent another tragedy like Columbine from happening again. Sue shares her story of a mother's love, heart-wrenching tragedy, sincere appeal for forgiveness, the long process of allowing herself to grieve, and letting go of the trauma of being hated, criticized and judged in order to focus on her heart, and the little boy she lost and adored.  Today Sue bravely, honestly and with great humility shares her 20-year journey of researching mental health, suicide, and their ramifications so that we as a community may be able to live more inspired. I think what will amaze you most is how much you can relate to Sue, her family and her story. Sue shares concrete ideas to make sure none of us have to step into her shoes. It is a podcast you won't want to miss. SHOW NOTES:  Sue heard on the news that 25 had died and found herself praying that no more would die and if her son was the killer that he'd kill himself to stop the number of fatalities from growing. "I didn't think of him as a vicious murderer." "I went into the meeting with the sheriff thinking he'd been brainwashed or tricked. But I was shown what really happened and his level of involvement in the planning that I was in a state of shock all over again. I had to rebuild who Dylan was to me." We were very isolated after the tragedy, I had a tremendous amount of humiliation to think that someone I loved and raised could do something like this. There was a lot of fear involved.  "Everybody who knew Dylan was as dumbfounded as we were. All wondering what we could have said to change his involvement...trying to understand what Dylan had done, look out for each other." I remember Dylan with joy. Like if he died of cancer or a car accident.  I thought I'd never get to this place. I thought the way in which he died would obliterate what he had meant to me. Every time I saw kids with their moms and kids with their siblings I thought Dylan took that from people. I tried to make statements, write letters to the victims..."There is nothing you can do to adequately apologize for something like that." Read paralyzed Columbine survivor, Anne Marie Hochhalter's letter of forgiveness to Sue.   "I had perceived myself to be a good mother." "Previously, I had been one of those mothers who when crimes were being committed, went "uh-huh, what kinda parent was that." People had to think of me as a bad parent or different than them because "The thought that you could do your best and be a good parent and this could still happen is a terrifying thought." "I had no idea during his lifetime that he was in danger and that's why I speak about this a lot today. Now I look back - after being educated, reading, talking with experts - I can say that was a potential sign. But I didn't have the knowledge at the time." School counselors, therapist, teachers and his parents all missed potential signs. He said he'd show us that he was on the right track and he did. He worked, applied to college and did well for the next 14 months. Change in behavior happened his junior year. Changes in his sleep patterns. But he presented as a normal person.   "The thought that you could do your best and be a good parent and this could still happen is terrifying."  "Important point to remember about mental health: What we think people should be feeling and what they are feeling can be very, very different." We need to do everything we can to truly understand what our children are going through. Ask open-ended questions (even though you can't be certain they'll answer truthfully): "Tell me something about yourself that no one understands, but that causes you pain?" Instead of trying to fix it, making your child feel like he has to "be happy" ... no matter their answer, your response should always be, "tell me more about that." Ask the hard questions: Do you have thoughts about hurting yourself or someone else? Stay calm, don't try to argue with that person. I wish I'd given more of an opportunity to share more of what he was dealing with and that whatever his feelings were okay. If I could do anything over, those are the things I would make happen. Sue's book is a meditation on forgiveness A Mother's Reckoning.  There is a physiological difference in those who commit suicide; when someone is having persistent thoughts of suicide and can't shut it off - these are symptoms of a physiological brain malfunction. [Dr. Victoria Arango, Ph.D. from Columbia University]  According to the FBI, of mass shootings, 78% of them the shooter was suicidal. This is why I have become so focused on suicide prevention. If we can get someone away from a suicidal crisis, it gives us great opportunity to prevent a shooting like this from escalating. "I practice gratitude a lot." I go to bed at night counting blessings to adjust my mind into a positive place. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-talk or go to their website to chat: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org  All author proceeds from A Mother’s Reckoning are being donated to various mental health charities, including Mental Health America (MHA), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), American Association of Suicidology (AAS), and Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. SUE KLEBOLD'S LIVE INSPIRED 7  1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? Oh, that's a great question, I wish I had a long time to think about that. Gone with the Wind, Amy Tann, one of the best books on suicide: No Time to Say Goodbye. 2. Tomorrow you discover your wealthy uncle shockingly dies at the age of 103; leaving you millions. What would you do with it? Well, I think I'd sit on it for a while. I don't think there is anything different that I would do from what I am doing. I try to live a life where I have donated what I can donate from my book. I would want to make sure that money was used well. I am so happy with how my life is.  3. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? I think I would grab pictures of my children. 4. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be? Dylan.  5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? It was in the process of my therapy, where I was allowed to grieve.  6. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at age 20? You are in for a wild ride. Nothing you can do is going to prepare yourself. You are more courageous and strong than you have any idea. 7. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read? She did the best she could.  ***  If you enjoyed today’s episode: Subscribe (automatically get new episodes), rate & review (help spread the word!) this podcast wherever you get your podcasts. I can’t wait to see you here next Thursday! Today is your day. Live Inspired. Live Inspired with John every day on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram and get his Monday Motivation email: www.JohnOLearyInspires.com/Monday-Morning