Giving Voice to Depression

When someone you love is struggling with depression, anxiety, or addiction, knowing how to help can be agonizing — especially when every attempt seems to fail. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, licensed psychotherapist and professional interventionist Evan Jarschauer explains what real mental health interventions look like — far from the dramatic TV versions that oversimplify the process.

Evan has spent over 20 years he...

When depression makes it hard to get out of bed, eat, or even believe things will ever get better, a loving pet can be a lifeline. In this moving episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Lori shares how her dogs helped her survive and heal after divorce and severe depression.

Lori describes days spent “swimming through mud,” unable to function—until her dogs gave her a reason to get up, go outside, and reconnect with the world. Throug...

The grief that follows a suicide is unlike any other. It’s layered with guilt, confusion, trauma, and the persistent question: Why? In this powerful episode of Giving Voice to Depression, guest Lisa Sugarman shares her journey after losing her father, cousin, and close friend to suicide — and what she’s learned about navigating the unique and complex grief that follows.

Lisa offers deeply personal reflections on the healing power of...

After a suicide, words can either comfort and connect — or cut and cause more pain. In this powerful episode of Giving Voice to Depression, journalist and suicide loss survivor Deb Sherwood shares her personal experience navigating the unthinkable grief following her husband’s death by suicide — and the devastating impact of well-intentioned but hurtful comments from doctors, therapists, and friends.

Deb speaks candidly about the im...

Award-winning journalist and author Meg Kissinger joins Giving Voice to Depression to share the extraordinary and heartbreaking story behind her memoir “While You Were Out.”

In her conversation with Terry McGuire and Carly McCollow, Meg opens up about growing up in a large family marked by bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and depression—as well as two sibling deaths by suicide. She explores how decades of silence and stigma shaped h...

Award-winning journalist and author Meg Kissinger joins Giving Voice to Depression to share the extraordinary and heartbreaking story behind her memoir “While You Were Out.”

In her conversation with Terry McGuire and Carly McCollow, Meg opens up about growing up in a large family marked by bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and depression—as well as two sibling deaths by suicide. She explores how decades of silence and stigma shaped h...

In this deeply human episode of Giving Voice to Depression, John, a survivor of a suicide attempt, shares his ongoing struggle with self-forgiveness — and what healing looks like when you’re still learning to forgive yourself.

While many conversations about suicide focus on grief or prevention, John opens up about what comes after survival: the guilt, shame, and lingering belief that he doesn’t deserve forgiveness. Despite being for...

What happens when mental health and addiction collide? In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, David Shamszad shares his raw and revealing story of living with bipolar disorder and alcohol addiction — a combination often referred to as a dual diagnosis.

From self-medicating through college to hospitalization, reckless mania, and rock bottom, David opens up about how stigma, shame, and silence kept him from getting help for ye...

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Dr. Barbara Moser, a trained teacher in mindful self-compassion, shares three simple yet powerful practices you can use anytime to cope with stress, anxiety, and depression. These tools are free, backed by credible research, and require no appointment, transportation, or side effects.

From mindful breathing to the STOP method and a self-compassion break, these practices are designed to ...

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Kevin Lepine shares his deeply personal journey of growing up misunderstood, bullied, and isolated — experiences that fueled his depression long before he had words to describe it. He opens up about the pain of being unseen, living with undiagnosed ADD, and the crushing loneliness that often comes with both bullying and depression.

Kevin also discusses the turning points that helped him...

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, we revisit the powerful story of author and advocate Rebecca Lombardo, who has openly shared her struggles with bipolar disorder, depression, and suicidality. Now 10 years removed from her last hospitalization and self-harm attempt, Rebecca reflects on her growth, resilience, and the coping strategies that have helped her heal.

She discusses the importance of self-awareness, positive se...

In this intimate, unscripted conversation, Giving Voice to Depression hosts Terry McGuire and her daughter Carly McCollow open up about their personal experiences with depression across generations. They reflect on how genetics, trauma, and family silence shape mental health — and why speaking openly can break cycles of shame and stigma.

Listeners will hear stories about childhood anxiety, gratitude rituals, reframing depression as ...

In this rerun episode of Giving Voice to Depression, hosts Terry and Dr. Anita Sanz revisit The Spoon Theory, a popular metaphor created by Christine Miserandino to explain life with chronic illness. The conversation explores how the theory applies to depression and mental health, providing listeners with a way to explain their limited energy to others and make mindful daily choices. The hosts discuss real-world applications, inclu...

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Eric shares his deeply personal journey of living under the crushing weight of depression and how he found a path toward healing. Instead of fighting against his pain, Eric discovered the transformative power of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, which allowed him to engage with his depression in a new, compassionate way. Through personifying his struggle as a “boulder” and learnin...

In this powerful episode of Giving Voice to Depression, J.J. Singleton shares his journey of living with terminal colorectal cancer and battling depression. After enduring over 170 rounds of chemotherapy, J.J. opens up about the toll cancer has taken not just on his body but on his mental health. He discusses the stigma men face in expressing vulnerability, his initial resistance to therapy, and the life-changing benefits of openin...

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Dr. David Jacobi of Rogers Behavioral Health explains how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) works as an evidence-based treatment for depression. Together with hosts Terry and Anita, Dr. Jacobi breaks down the CBT “triangle” of emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, and explains why behavioral activation — doing something different, even small — can help break the cycle of depression.

Liste...

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Dr. Anita Sanz joins Terry and Carly to discuss the importance of seeking therapy as a proactive step for mental health, not just during times of crisis. Together, they break down what therapy actually looks like, why the stigma around it persists, and how people can find the right therapist for their needs. From analogies comparing therapy to car repair and physical therapy, to tackli...

One caring adult can make the difference between life and death.

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Chloe shares how her teacher noticed warning signs of her depression and suicidal thoughts — and stepped in to have a direct, lifesaving conversation.

Her story is a powerful reminder that teachers, coaches, and mentors play a critical role in suicide prevention. By noticing changes in behavior, asking hard questions, and s...

Depression can convince us that healing is impossible. But recovery doesn’t come all at once — it shows up in small, powerful signs of change.

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Cara McErlain from Belfast shares her lived experience of depression, therapy, and gradual healing. She opens up about the darkest moments of her journey and the hopeful signs that showed her recovery was possible: flashes of joy, moments of conn...