Preventing Teen Suicide: What Parents Can Learn From Abe’s Story

When 13-year-old Abby died by suicide, her family’s world shattered. Her father, Abe Goldberg, opens up about the painful reality of watching his daughter struggle with depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts—and the heartbreak of losing her far too soon.

In this powerful conversation, Abe shares how subtle signs of depression in children can escalate quickly, how difficult it was to navigate hospitalizations and treatment, and the lifelong grief that follows the loss of a child to suicide.

But Abe’s story is also one of resilience. Out of tragedy, he and his community created RedGen, an organization dedicated to promoting open conversations about mental health, redefining success, and protecting other children from the same devastating outcome.

This episode is a candid look at grief, parenting, and hope—and a reminder that speaking openly about children’s mental health can save lives.

Primary Topics Covered:

• The early warning signs of depression in children
• The pain and confusion of navigating hospitalizations and mental health treatment
• Abby’s story: a bright, athletic child lost to depression at 13
• The unique grief of parents surviving a child’s suicide
• Guilt, frustration, and unanswered questions after suicide loss
• How Abe and his community created RedGen to promote youth mental health
• Why open conversations about children’s emotions and struggles matter
• Turning grief into advocacy to protect future generations

Timestamps:

00:08 Introduction to Abe’s story
 00:44 Defining what it means to be a suicide survivor
 01:11 Meet Abby: a bright, typical middle-schooler
 02:18 Early signs: eating concerns, self-harm, and depression diagnosis
 03:29 First hospitalization and the pain of leaving a child in treatment
 04:35 Navigating the mental health system as parents
 04:56 Returning home and ongoing self-harm struggles
 05:16 A second hospitalization and limited treatment options
 05:43 July 7, 2013: Abby’s suicide at age 13
 06:42 The grief and frustration of losing a child
 07:19 Creating RedGen to promote youth mental health
 08:45 Looking ahead to future episodes on suicide grief
 09:19 Closing thanks and reminder to speak up and listen up

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