For the Media

As an international authority on the aftermath of suicide with 20+ years of professional experience—and the longtime survivor of my own brother’s suicide—I offer perspective and information through an expert voice, to complement what might be elicited from family members, friends, and/or first responders.  I also provide guidance on best practices for safely reporting on or writing about suicide. 

I can address:

• How/why suicide occurs, including in individuals who were “the last one you’d expect”

• The relationship between suicide and the COVID-19 pandemic, quarantine, and isolation (or unemployment, bullying, divorce, or other serious life stressors)

• The natural fears and questions following the suicide of a young person, including the possibility of contagion

• What to expect in the aftermath of suicide (what’s “normal” and when to worry)

• The impact of suicide in a workplace

• The impact of suicide in a faith community

• The impact of suicide in a school community 

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For a comprehensive list of prior speaking engagements, click here.

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SELECT PUBLICATIONS

After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools 

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Five Things Every Funeral Director Should Know About Suicide 

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Food for Thought on Yom Kippur

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Grief After Suicide: The Impact on Families

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Have You Lost Someone to Suicide?

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National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: You Matter youth blog interview

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Suicide’s Stigma

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Survivor Narratives: Stories of Hope and Healing​

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What a Year It’s Been: Coping After Suicide

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Best practices for safely REPORTING on OR WRITING ABOUT SUICIDE

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1. Familiarize yourself with the National Consensus Recommendations for Safe and Effective Reporting on Suicide. Following these evidence-based recommendations can help reduce the risk of suicide contagion. 

2. Include two key suicide prevention resources: 

   • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 1-800-273-TALK (8255) 

   • Crisis Text Line. Text “TALK” to 741741).

3. Make clear that suicide is very complicated and is almost always caused by a complex mix of factors, not just by a single event or circumstance. In most cases, these factors include a serious underlying mental health condition such as depression, which can cause intense emotional suffering, but which may not have been obvious from the outside.

4. Include that it is safe to ask someone if they may be thinking about suicide. It is a myth that asking a direct question about suicidality can somehow increase risk. The best way to ask: “I’m concerned about your safety. Have you been thinking about death or dying?”

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