Hope Illuminated Podcast: Helping the Helpers Bring Light to Life’s Darkest Moments
Welcome to the Hope Illuminated Podcast, your source for the stories, science and strategy of suicide prevention, mental health promotion and resilience where we live, learn, and work. I’m your host, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, and I am on a life mission to empower communities with solutions that help people overcome isolation and despair and rekindle a passion for living. Each episode we’re joined by international experts who inspire hope and offer real guidance. Welcome to the show! I am so grateful you are here.
Episodes
In this powerful episode, Scott LoMurray, TIME100 Health honoree and CEO of Sources of Strength, shares how his organization has transformed youth suicide prevention through peer leadership, strength-based storytelling, and community-driven culture change. We unpack the evidence, the vision, and the movement that’s shifting suicide prevention from reaction to resilience. for mor einformation on this episode go to https://www.sallys...
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What if the most powerful suicide prevention tool we have… is time?In this groundbreaking episode, suicide prevention expert Dr. Gergö Hadlaczky shares insights from science, strategy, and lived experience about how creating time—even just a few minutes—can change the trajectory of a suicidal crisis.We explore the rapidity of suicidal crises, how emotional intensity and suicidal thoughts often pass with time, and why time-buying ca...
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Why do we fear emotions, particularly in cultures where strength is defined by stoicism? What if we reframed emotions not as liabilities, but as essential survival systems?When are get stuck in our emotions like fear, grief, anger, and guilt, we’re not failing. Our emotions are over-functioning. Emotional systems have evolved "fail-safe" systems; they won’t stop to help us survive. And while that keeps us alive, it can also overwhe...
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In this episode, we explore one of the most urgent yet often overlooked crises facing high-risk industries: suicide in construction. Our guest, Sebastian Ison-Jacques, brings a powerful blend of personal experience, academic research, and sector insight to this critical conversation. From digital construction to workplace mental health, Seb’s mission is to expose what’s broken and help build something better. for more information o...
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In this episode of Hope Illuminated, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas sits down with Dr. Eva De Jaegere from Belgium to explore the stories behind suicide through the lens of psychological autopsy. Together, they discuss Dr. Eva’s research on suicide risk in middle-aged adults, revealing surprising findings about the role of work stress, financial worries, and the importance of open conversations about suicide and mental health. Discover ...
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In this inspiring episode of Hope Illuminated, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas sits down with Sandersan Onie, a global leader in mental health promotion and suicide prevention, for a powerful conversation about the importance of intellectual humility and meeting people where they are. Listen as Dr. Onie shares personal stories of overcoming trauma, highlights the critical role of religion and culture in suicide prevention, and reveals how...
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May 13, 2025 • 45 mins
In this powerful episode of Hope Illuminated, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas sits down with Alex Bush, a resilient young advocate who began sharing her story after losing her father to suicide at 16. Together, they discuss the vital role of personal storytelling in suicide prevention, the impact of youth voices on mental health advocacy, and actionable strategies for engaging with both traditional and social media. Alex shares her journe...
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Join Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas as she sits down with Lyseria Kursave, a resilient trans woman and union electrician, for an honest conversation about living authentically, navigating personal and professional challenges, and the intersection of gender identity and mental health. From overcoming isolation and workplace discrimination to the importance of community and allyship, this powerful episode of Hope Illuminated sheds light on...
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April 22, 2025 • 58 mins
In this thought-provoking episode, I sit down with Dr. Selma Gaily-Luoma to explore the transformative role of agency in suicide prevention. Agency, defined as the sense of control and capacity to influence your thoughts, behaviors, and circumstances, is a cornerstone of psychological resilience. We delve into how fostering a sense of agency can be a powerful antidote to feelings of entrapment and despair that often accompany suici...
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Join host Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas in a compelling conversation with Dr. Simon Hatcher from the University of Ottawa. The discuss the intricacies of police suicide, mental health challenges, and how these insights can aid high-risk industries. Discover the importance of involving lived experience in mental health research and the challenges faced by underserved populations. With personal stories, expert insights, and a focus on soc...
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In this episode of Hope Illuminated, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas talks with Dr. Holly Wilcox from Johns Hopkins University to explore the transformative impact of the Good Behavior Game. They cover upstream approaches to suicide prevention, emphasizing skill-building in early childhood to improve mental health outcomes. Discover how focusing on education and emotional regulation can mitigate risks and build resilience in communities, ...
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Join Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas as she discusses into the powerful role of lived experience in transforming suicide prevention strategies. In this episode of "Hope Illuminated," featuring guests Kier McKechnie and Seonaid Stallan from Glasgow, Scotland, discover how integrating real-life experiences into policy and program development can inspire meaningful change. Learn about the innovative approaches taken by Scotland's National Su...
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March 11, 2025 • 44 mins
In this powerful episode of Hope Illuminated, host Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas speaks with John Cornelius about generational trauma in tribal communities, his personal journey from Pine Ridge Reservation through military service to peer support specialist, and how Native communities are finding healing through cultural reconnection and community-driven solutions. A moving conversation about historical wounds and modern hope. For more...
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March 4, 2025 • 60 mins
Dr. Pierluigi Mancini shares his pioneering work in building culturally and linguistically responsive mental health services. Learn how addressing language barriers and cultural understanding can transform crisis intervention and addiction recovery outcomes for immigrant communities. An essential conversation about making mental health support accessible to all.For more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencertho...
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Explore how agency and empowerment can transform suicide prevention with researcher Dr. Luke Bayliss. Learn why shifting from forced interventions to collaborative approaches that respect individual choice and dignity may be key to helping those in crisis reclaim control of their lives. Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas and Bayliss discuss groundbreaking research on agency in suicide prevention and practical ways to expand options beyond tr...
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February 11, 2025 • 41 mins
Join host Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas and guest Barb Smith as they discuss supporting communities after suicide through active postvention. Learn about the vital role of loss teams, victim advocacy, and proactive outreach in helping survivors navigate grief, reduce isolation, and find hope. Discover evidence-based approaches that demonstrate why early intervention matters for those impacted by suicide loss. For more information on thi...
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Dr. Renad Beidas joins me to discuss a compelling study highlighting the critical importance of firearm safety in pediatric care. Dr. Beidas brought profound insights from her recent research involving 30 clinics implementing firearm safety conversations as part of pediatric visits. The study’s two-pronged approach—using both an updated electronic health record template and additional facilitation—remarkably increased the program's...
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I had the profound honor of sitting down with Dr. Christine Moutier, the Chief Medical Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Dr. Moutier's journey, deeply rooted in a culture of achievement and stoicism, stands as a testament to the transformative power of vulnerability. During our conversation, she shared the unique challenges she faced in medical school, encountering a severe mental health crisis that ...
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December 27, 2024 • 13 mins
Reflecting on 2024, we mark a deeply personal milestone: two decades since the loss of my brother, Carson. His memory continues to inspire and drive the mission of the Hope Illuminated Podcast. As an entrepreneur, Carson always sought innovative ways to scale gap-filling solutions in our health insurance industry. We try to carry on his value for entrepreneurialism by lifting up the voices of innovative thought leaders in the menta...
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December 17, 2024 • 56 mins
Today, we’re joined by Dr. Stefanie Kirchner to explore the transformative power of storytelling for suicide survivors. Her research highlights how sharing deeply personal experiences fosters hope, connection, and societal change, while also emphasizing the importance of emotional readiness and media training for storytellers. By turning personal pain into a beacon of hope, these stories help dismantle stigma and inspire meaningful...
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