Suicide Prevention: Warning Signs, How to Help Someone in Crisis & Resources That Save Lives with Troy Belmar | Ep. 49

Troy Belmar, co-founder of Alive and Running, joins Dr. Rock to talk about suicide prevention in a way that's real, practical, and potentially life-saving. After losing a close friend to suicide in high school and watching his co-founder struggle for years, Troy dedicated his life to breaking the stigma around mental health and teaching people how to intervene when someone's in crisis. He breaks down the warning signs most people miss, how to ask the hard questions without sugarcoating, and why the new 988 crisis line is saving lives daily in ways the old hotline never could.

Here's what you need to know: giving away prized possessions (especially pets), social media posts with dark lyrics or throwback videos, talking about being a burden, financial stress, and isolation are all red flags. Troy explains QPR training—the mental health version of CPR—and why asking "Are you thinking about ending your life?" directly is better than dancing around it. He also reveals why just asking "How are you doing?" doesn't cut it anymore, but asking "Are you happy?" gets to the root fast. From the 988 text/call line that quadrupled usage to Cedar Valley resources and how exercise impacts mental health, this episode gives you tools to recognize crisis and take action.

Whether you're worried about a friend, family member, coworker, or yourself, this conversation could save a life. Troy shares how John Deere layoffs impacted local suicide rates, why telehealth reduced the stigma of getting help, and how Alive and Running has donated over $100,000 to improve mental health facilities in the Cedar Valley. No sugarcoating, no medical jargon—just honest talk about mental health crisis intervention, community support, and why normalizing these conversations is the only way forward.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out for help. There are resources available and you don't have to go through this alone.

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (U.S. and Canada
• Crisis Text Line: Text "HOME" to 741741
• Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1
• The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ youth): Call 1-866-488-7386 or text "START" to 678-678

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