Brain Hijack

Supporting Families Who Have Lost A Loved One To Suicide

How should we memorialize someone who has died by suicide? To help answer that question, Brooke and Adam speak with Dr. Keita Franklin, a national leader in suicide. Dr. Franklin shares why we should be memorializing someone who died by suicide in the same way as those who died by other means. It can feel uncomfortable to talk to person who has lost someone to suicide; however, Dr. Franklin notes the importance of hearing their story as a way to honor the loved one who has passed. Lastly, she highlights the "dos and don'ts" of how to have a conversation about a loved one who has died by suicide.

You Do Matter: A Look at the LGBTQ+ Community and Suicide

Do LGBTQ+ individuals have the same risk factors for suicide as the general population?Today we speak to Dr. Kate Comtois, a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Washington University, about LGBTQ+ community and its increased risk of suicide. She highlights the impact social media has had in creating a space where bullying is much more public and longer lasting than pre-social media days and how we can combat its effect.

5 Principles of Firearm Safety

Today’s episode addresses the myth, “If access to one method of suicide is restricted, will another method be used instead?” Brooke and Adam speak to Dr. James C. West, host of the critically acclaimed podcast “Let’s Talk About Your Guns” a series that discusses gun safety by unpacking real-life scenarios. Listen in as Dr. West talks about the impulsivity around the act of suicide and why ready access to means matters. Lastly, we learn about the five principles of firearm storage and how you can start implementing them in your life today. Dr. James C. West graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School in 2001 and the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia Psychiatry Residency Program in 2005. He currently serves as an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and a Scientist at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University of the Health Science. Prior to these assignments, he worked as a military psychiatrist and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as an Operational Stress Control and Readiness psychiatrist and later in leadership roles as the Deputy Commander of Behavioral Health at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Dr. West is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and has presented to the APA on numerous occasions on physician and patient conversations on firearm safety. In addition, he has participated in the forum on health and family firearm safety and created an online course for the APA on firearm safety. https://www.cstsonline.org/suicide-prevention-program/podcasts/lets-talk-about-your-guns

Managing Intense Moments While Still Showing Up for People

On today’s episode, special guest host Dr. Joshua Morganstein talks to guest speaker Dr. Steven Dubovsky about managing intense moments. Dr. Dubovsky shares his experience as a firefighter/EMT to give us an inside look at how people working in high intensity jobs cope with stress. One key takeaway is that the firefighter community is a great example of showing up for people (both on and off the clock).

Addressing Youth Suicide

Today’s episode addresses the myth that “teens say they are suicidal to manipulate their parents and teachers.” While this may happen, a 2021 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration survey asked teenagers if they have had any suicidal thoughts in the last 30 days and an astonishing 3.3 million teenagers responded “Yes, I’ve had serious thoughts of suicide”. Brooke and Adam, speak with Dr. Daid Jobes, former President of the American Association of Suicidology, about the reality of suicide and suicidal thoughts among children and teenagers and highlight what you can do as a parent, guardian, or caregiver, to help prevent it.