Episode 11: Died by Suicide Series

Grief Girls Podcast – Episode 11Died by Suicide Series: Stories That Encourage Discussion

Theme: Suicide and personal stories leading to how we can help other families.

In this deeply personal and important episode, Tamara and Paula explore the difficult conversation about suicide, the stigma surrounding suicide loss, and the misconceptions that can make it difficult for families to talk openly about what happened.

Grief & Inspiration support group members Sally and Erin join Grief Girls to courageously share the stories of their husbands, Kevin and Steve, who both died by suicide. They share not only the heartbreaking circumstances surrounding their deaths, but also the men they knew and loved—their marriages, their families, their struggles, and the lives they built together.

Their stories lead to a larger conversation about the societal pressures men can face to be strong, successful, resilient, and silent about their pain. They discuss chronic pain, anxiety, ADHD, alcohol use, mental health challenges, and the ways these struggles can sometimes remain hidden beneath the surface.

Sally and Erin also share questions they have about the medical care their husbands received, including the prescribing of new medications shortly before their deaths. Their experiences have led them to question whether there was enough education, monitoring, follow-up, and mental health expertise surrounding their care.

Their message is that medications should be prescribed thoughtfully, with appropriate expertise and consideration of the individual patient—including how a new medication may interact with other medications the patient is taking. They emphasize the importance of patient and family education, close monitoring, and a clear plan for follow-up, particularly when beginning a new medication or changing a dose.

This conversation is not about assigning blame or determining exactly what caused either death. It is about asking questions, sharing experiences, challenging stigma, and encouraging families to become informed advocates for themselves and the people they love.

Most importantly, Sally and Erin hope their stories will help other families feel less alone and encourage conversations that could make a difference.

In This Episode

• Sally and Erin share the stories of their husbands, Kevin and Steve
• The devastating impact of losing a spouse to suicide
• Breaking the stigma surrounding suicide loss
• Why the language we use when talking about suicide matters
• The importance of remembering the person beyond the manner of their death
• The societal pressure men can face to be strong, successful, resilient, and silent about their struggles
• Chronic pain, anxiety, ADHD, alcohol use, and mental health challenges
• The importance of understanding potential medication interactions
• Why patient and family education matters
• The importance of appropriate monitoring and follow-up
• Sally's experience learning about genetic testing and medication response
• How honest conversations can help reduce stigma
• How sharing personal stories can help other families

A Conversation About Genetic Testing

Sally also shares what she learned while researching genetic testing that may provide insight into how an individual's genetics can impact their response to certain medications.

She discusses GeneSight, a pharmacogenomic test that can provide information about how genetics may impact certain medications.

Learn more about GeneSight:

https://genesight.com/

Important note: Genetic testing is not a diagnostic test for suicide risk and does not determine which medication will be safe or effective for every individual. Decisions about testing, medication, or treatment should be made with a qualified healthcare professional who can consider the individual's complete medical and mental health history.

Changing the Conversation About Men & Mental Health

Sally and Erin's stories also raise an important question:

What happens when men feel they have to be strong, successful, resilient, and silent about their pain?

Their hope is to help create a culture where men feel more comfortable acknowledging when they are struggling and asking for help.

Mental health challenges do not make someone weak. Asking for help is not failure. And no one should feel that they have to carry their pain alone.

Remembering Kevin & Steve

Sally and Erin want their husbands to be remembered for who they were—not simply how they died.

Sally shares:

“I like to talk about what happened to Kevin and keeping him alive in the memories and that’s really the most healing thing for me.”

They were husbands, fathers, friends, and loved ones. They had lives filled with relationships, memories, accomplishments, challenges, laughter, and love.

Their lives mattered.

And their stories matter.

A Message to Other Families

The hope behind this episode is simple: keep talking.

Talk about mental health.

Ask questions.

Say their name.

Ask for help.

Advocate for yourself and the people you love.

For families who have lost someone to suicide, grief can carry an additional layer of unanswered questions, guilt, anger, confusion, and stigma. There may not be simple answers, but honest conversation can help break the silence.

If sharing Sally and Erin's stories helps another family ask a question, recognize a warning sign, seek additional support, or simply feel less alone, then their willingness to have this difficult conversation has meaning.

If You or Someone You Know Is Struggling

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, or a mental health crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If there is immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

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Credits & Special Thanks

A special thank you to Maria Stephanos of WCVB Channel 5 News for her kindness, encouragement, and interest in helping shine a light on the Grief & Inspiration community and the Grief Girls Podcast.

Maria’s feature on Grief Girls helped bring awareness to the reality of grief and the importance of connection, support, and hope for those navigating loss.

Click for Maria Stephanos interview:

https://www.wcvb.com/article/the-grief-girls-south-shore/71280100

We are also deeply grateful to singer-songwriter Will Dempsey for his generosity and support of our mission. His music continues to bring comfort and connection to those navigating loss, and his willingness to help raise awareness means so much to us.

His song “Beat You There” reflects the heart of the Grief Girls Podcast—the understanding that grief brings profound sadness, unanswered questions, and a deep longing for those we miss. Yet within that pain is a comforting reminder that love never ends. Our loved ones would want us to continue living, embracing meaningful moments, and finding joy again while carrying their memory with us.

Website: www.willdempseymusic.com

Instagram: @willdempseymusic

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Join us as we share stories, healing, laughter, tears, and reminders that joy can exist alongside grief.

Share With Someone Who Needs This

If this episode resonates with you, please share it with someone who has lost a loved one to suicide, someone who may be struggling, a man who may be silently carrying pain, or someone who wants to better understand suicide loss and how to support a grieving family.

#GriefGirlsPodcast #DiedBySuicide #SuicideAwareness #SuicideLoss #GriefSupport #MentalHealthAwareness #MensMentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #GriefJourney #LifeAfterLoss #HealingAfterLoss #SuicidePrevention #GriefCommunity #YouAreNotAlone #HopeAfterLoss