Real Stories of Living With Depression, Stigma, and Suicide

Season one of Giving Voice to Depression brought deeply moving, raw, and powerful stories from people who know depression firsthand—and those impacted by it.

In this special wrap-up, co-hosts Bridget and Terry reflect on the season’s most powerful lessons. From the risks of keeping family mental health struggles secret, to the realities of stigma in schools and workplaces, to the devastating impact of suicide and the unique grief that follows, this season explored depression from many perspectives.

Along the way, parents, teachers, survivors, and experts helped shed light on what depression really feels like, how stigma blocks healing, and why honest conversations save lives.

If you’re new to the podcast, this episode is the perfect entry point. If you’ve been with us all season, it’s a reminder of the strength it takes to tell the truth—and the hope it gives to those who listen.

Primary Topics Covered:

• Why keeping family mental health struggles secret causes suffering
• Stigma in schools, workplaces, and families—and its dangerous consequences
• A father’s story of losing his child to suicide
• The unique grief of siblings surviving suicide loss
• The perspective of a suicide attempt survivor
• What experts say is the difference between sadness and depression
• How depression’s voice convinces us we’re worthless
• Pregnancy-related depression: postpartum and antepartum experiences
• The ripple effect of sharing stories to reduce stigma and increase understanding

Timestamps:

00:10 Introduction from Bridget and Terry
 00:46 Why sharing real stories of depression matters
 01:06 Jose on the danger of keeping family mental health struggles secret
 01:42 Bridget shares her frightening antidepressant experience
 02:05 Adele’s reminder: you don’t need depression to be affected by it
 02:29 A three-week focus on stigma and its risks
 03:47 Jeff’s story: reducing stigma in UK workplaces
 04:17 A teacher’s initiative to reduce stigma in schools
 04:47 Suicide explored from three perspectives: father, sibling, survivor
 06:07 Experts explain the difference between sadness and depression
 06:50 Sarah describes depression’s insidious inner voice
 07:19 Lisa and Isabelle on pregnancy-related depression
 08:01 Listener feedback: stories help reduce isolation and build language
 08:35 Reflections and gratitude from Bridget and Terry
 09:06 Closing reminders: speak up if you’re hurting, listen up if someone else is

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