Episode 69: Ending the Stigma: A Roadmap to Improved Mental Health Support

Are you struggling to find affordable mental health resources? You won't believe the wealth of options available, from sliding scale therapy to online mental health services for as low as $50. Lisa Sugarman, a suicide survivor and mental health advocate, has curated a comprehensive list of resources on her website. 

What's more, she's a crisis counselor for the Trevor Project, providing support to LGBTQ youth in crisis. You won't want to miss out on the eye-opening conversation I had with her about mental health awareness and support.

In this episode, we discuss

• Effective strategies for supporting someone who is suicidal.
• Ways to help end the stigma surrounding mental health.
• The vital role and impact of crisis counselors.
• Affordable and accessible mental health resources.
• Insights into the power of sharing stories of loss and grief.

My special guest is Lisa Sugarman

Lisa Sugarman, a Boston-based author, columnist, and mental health advocate, is a beacon of hope in the movement to end the stigma surrounding mental health. With a deeply personal journey that saw her grappling with the discovery of her father's suicide 35 years after his passing, Lisa has dedicated herself to turning her pain into purpose. As a crisis counselor with the Trevor Project and a storyteller with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, she actively works to normalize conversations about mental health, suicide, loss, and grief. Through her advocacy and storytelling, Lisa aims to inspire change and foster understanding, offering invaluable insights into the complex terrain of mental health challenges and the power of support and empathy. Her unwavering commitment to reshaping the narrative around mental health makes her a compelling and influential voice in the quest to end the stigma.

The global mantra these days should be, it's really okay to not be okay, and it's really okay to share that, because that's how we get the help we need. - Lisa Sugarman

Key moments in this episode are:

00:01:35 - Lisa's Story

00:05:14 - Recognizing Struggles

00:08:11 - Having Difficult Conversations

00:12:51 - Debunking Myths

00:14:19 - Collective Trauma and Finding Help

00:16:17 - Supporting Someone Suicidal

00:19:56 - Holding Space and Kindness

00:22:05 - The Power of Storytelling

00:28:22 - Turning Pain into Purpose

00:30:09 - The Trevor Project

00:32:59 - Mental Health Services and Resources

00:35:12 - Purpose of Creating Resources

00:41:02 - The Power of Vulnerability

00:43:05 - In our next episode, Supporting Military Personnel with Mental Illness

Resources:

Lisa Sugarman – Website and Resources