A quick note: this episode touches on suicide loss. If it brings up anything difficult for you, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) is available anytime

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Megan Whittemore a LOOONG time friend/sister from another mister and licensed psychologist and founder of Kinnect Psychology in Ballwin, Missouri, for an honest conversation about one of the hardest things a mental health professional can face: losing a client to suicide.

Dr. Whittemore shares her personal experience of this loss and speaks candidly about the grief that follows. A grief that is often complicated by guilt, self-doubt, and professional isolation. We talk about why this kind of loss is so rarely discussed openly in the field, why clinicians often feel they have to grieve in silence, and what real support (or the lack of it) looks like within the mental health profession.

About Dr. Megan Whittemore:

Dr. Megan Whittemore is a licensed psychologist and the founder of Kinnect Psychology, where she provides individual, couples, and group therapy as well as parent coaching. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Missouri Psychological Association, and currently serves as Secretary of the Saint Louis Psychological Association.

Learn more about her work at kinnectpsychology.com.

The Coalition for Clinician-Survivors: https://www.cliniciansurvivor.org/

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/

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/