"The Why to Stay" with Pam Sharp, Mother and Suicide Loss Survivor

In this special episode of the StayMENtallyStrong Podcast, I sit down with Pam Sharp, a mother, grandmother, and fellow mental health advocate who knows the heartbreak of losing a loved one to suicide all too well. In 2020, Pam’s 16-year-old son, Sam, took his life, and since then, she has bravely shared her story to bring light to the silent struggles so many face. I first discovered Pam through a video of her twin sons returning home from their LDS missions to attend their brother’s funeral. It struck a deep chord with me—my own son had just come home following the loss of his father, my husband, to suicide. From that moment, I felt a connection to Pam’s story and her heart for healing.

In this conversation, we talk openly about grief, the signs we wish we had seen, the depth of loss, and the hope we’ve found in using our pain to help others. Pam and I are both navigating this journey of turning tragedy into purpose, and we’re here to remind anyone listening who might be struggling: you are not alone, and there is always a reason to stay. This episode is about real stories, real pain, and real hope—and our shared mission to break the stigma around men’s mental health, one honest conversation at a time.