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"Stigma is just another word for discrimination...We are making it hard to talk about."

Imagine being able to change the way we talk about and approach mental health crises.

In the first episode of our four-part series for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, I speak with Kate Hardy, the founder and executive director of Six Feet Over, to examine the societal impact of suicide and the power of empathetic language in prevention and postvention.

We discuss the complex interplay between social determinants of health and suicide prevention, and how systemic inequities, exacerbated by events like the pandemic, amplify mental health struggles among vulnerable populations. We also explore how to normalize the conversation and the necessity for direct and respectful communication Our conversation centers on the urgent need for community-driven support, equitable funding, and policy changes to ensure comprehensive care.
 
The conversation then turns to the importance of building a life worth living and the critical role of support networks. This episode is not just about understanding suicide prevention—it's about fostering resilience, compassion, and trauma-sensitive leadership.

Resources
Call 988, a 24/7, free, and confidential support for people in distress.

Kate Hardy is the founder and Executive Director of Six Feet Over, a Michigan based suicide prevention and postvention nonprofit. Kate is the survivor of nine losses by suicide, beginning with the loss of her mother in 2003. She has been recognized as the 2017 American Association of Suicidology Loss Survivor of the Year, a former member of the 988 (formerly NSPL) Individual and Family Lived Experience Committee, the Lifeline Chat Work-group, an advisor on the Michigan Suicide Prevention Plan Workgroup, and a member of the International Messaging Advisory Group. She is currently an advisory committee member of Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative and the Kansas Suicide Prevention Coalition, a board member of With One Voice, as well as several advisory workgroups, boards, committies and a national speaker. She lives just outside of Detroit with her husband of 20 years and their teenage son.

Learn more about Six Feet Over on their website, or email info@sixftover.org. On Facebook, check out Six Feet Over or Suck It Suicide. Or on Twitter or Instagram.

Go to https://betterhelp.com/resilience or click Notes on Resilience during sign up for 10% off your first month of therapy with my sponsor BetterHelp.

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Producer / Editor: Neel Panji

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