This episode discusses suicide, grief, and loss. No graphic details or methods are described. If you're struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text (US), and the Crisis Text Line is available by texting HOME to 741741.

Last week, we talked about prevention. This episode goes somewhere prevention often skips; the language we use around suicide, the people left behind after a loss, and the conversation most of us are too afraid to have. We break down why "died by suicide" has replaced "committed suicide," what postvention means and why survivors of loss are so often left without support, and most importantly, how to actually ask someone if they're okay, in a way that might genuinely help.

If someone came to mind while you were listening: that's probably not a coincidence. Reach out to them this week.

Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠

Get merch and find any other info you need on the podcast here: www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/podcast

Music: "Cheery Monday"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

We're revisiting this conversation for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month because this episode still matters!!

A note before you listen: this episode discusses suicide and mental health struggles openly. If you're in a rough place right now, please see the resources at the bottom of these notes before or after listening.

If you or someone you know is struggling:

-988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988 (US), available 24/7-Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741 (US)-International Association for Suicide Prevention — findahelpline.com for resources outside the US

You don't have to be in crisis to reach out. These lines are also there if you just need to talk something through.

Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠

Get merch and find any other info you need on the podcast here: www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/podcast

Music: "Cheery Monday"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

If you have thoughts about suicide or harming yourself please call or text 988. I promise someone is there who cares.

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses suicide, mental illness, and grief in detail.

For Suicide Awareness Month, I sat down with Jackie M. Baker, a pediatric nurse practitioner, author, and mother, who lost her son Sebastian to suicide after his years-long battle with bipolar disorder and suicidal thoughts. Jackie shares what it was like to walk through the hardest kind of grief, and why she now devotes her time to supporting other mothers who've lost children to suicide.

Jackie is the author of the upcoming book Messy Mourning: Hope for Mothers Grieving the Loss of a Child by Suicide, and writes regularly about grief, faith, and healing at her Substack, Jackie's Substack.

You can find Jackie at:

Website: jackiembaker.com

Substack: jackiembaker.substack.com

Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠

Get merch and find any other info you need on the podcast here: www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/podcast

Music:

"Cheery Monday"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/