Suicide Loss and Healing: Stories of Grief, Recovery, and Saving Lives

In this powerful episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Sebastian Slobodin shares his deeply personal journey after losing his father to suicide at age six. Growing up in silence and stigma, he struggled with depression himself until a chance encounter opened the door to healing.

Sebastian embarked on a global pilgrimage, speaking with dozens of his father’s friends to better understand the man he lost—and in the process, he uncovered lessons about self-worth, resilience, and the dangers of defining ourselves by external success.

Years later, his healing journey empowered him to step in and save another man’s life, proving that sharing our stories can create ripple effects of hope.

This conversation is a moving reminder that grief doesn’t have to be faced alone, recovery is possible, and your story may one day save someone else’s life.

Learn more about Sebastian and his father in the book Ashes in the Ocean, available on Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/Ashes-Ocean-Through-Learning-Fathers/dp/0692051198

Primary Topics Covered:

• The devastating impact of a parent’s suicide on a child
• Growing up in silence, stigma, and unprocessed grief
• How self-worth tied to external success increases mental health risks
• The turning point: finding connection through shared experiences of loss
• Lessons learned from a global pilgrimage to understand his father
• How sharing his story allowed Sebastian to help save another life
• The importance of speaking openly about suicide and mental health
• Finding meaning and purpose after tragedy

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Introduction to Giving Voice to Depression and episode theme
• 01:10 - Sebastian’s story introduced: loss of his father to suicide
• 03:08 - Growing up in an “ideal” home that hid painful struggles
• 03:36 - His father’s suicide at age six and its impact
• 04:52 - Struggling with depression and isolation as a teen
• 05:44 - The life-changing conversation with his father’s friend
• 06:43 - Realization: he was not alone in his grief
• 07:06 - Starting a pilgrimage to interview 40 of his father’s friends
• 08:18 - Learning deeper lessons about life, identity, and success
• 09:29 - The dangers of basing self-worth on external achievements
• 10:28 - Sebastian’s chance to help another suicidal father
• 12:11 - Visiting the same hospital where his father had died
• 13:41 - Therapist’s perspective on self-worth and vulnerability
• 15:41 - The importance of processing grief over a lifetime
• 17:31 - The unique power of lived experience in suicide prevention
• 20:09 - Recognizing self-worth even when you can’t see it yourself
• 21:33 - The clarity Sebastian felt when sharing his truth with others
• 22:01 - Closing reflections and message of hope

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