September 9, 2025 • 16 mins
This episode of Integrated Wisdom honours World Suicide Prevention Day by exploring the role spirituality can play in suicide prevention.
Drawing on research by Dr. Lisa Miller and others, I share why a strong spiritual connection is linked to lower suicide risk, greater resilience, and the ability to find meaning in suffering. I also explore how perspectives from near-death experience research and stories from clinical practice reveal something essential: when we understand ourselves as spiritual beings, challenges take on new meaning, and even the darkest struggles can be reframed as part of a larger process of growth.
You’ll learn:
- Why spirituality protects against hopelessness and suicide risk
- What near-death experience research suggests about life and purpose
- Practical ways to strengthen your spiritual core as a source of resilience
As this year’s theme reminds us, it’s time to change the narrative on suicide. May this episode offer hope, meaning, and a reminder that you are not alone.
👉 Next week: how spirituality could help us heal some of today’s greatest global challenges.
Deepen your learning:
The Science of Spirituality FREE micro-course - https://www.integratedwisdom.com.au/microcourse
The Signal Newsletter: https://www.integratedwisdom.com.au/
Contact Tatiana:
You can now send me your comments or questions, to hello@integratedwisdom.com.au or you can also find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wisdomwithtatiana/
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Intro and Outro music: Inspiring Morning by Playsound
Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be treated as psychological treatment or to replace the need for psychological treatment.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Tatiana (00:00):
Today's episode is tender and urgent.
We'll be talking about suicideand specifically about changing
the narrative on suicide.
Which is the theme for thisyear's World Suicide Prevention
Day.
if you're listening and this isa sensitive topic for you,
please take care of yourself.
(00:20):
If at any point it feelsoverwhelming, you can pause,
come back later, or skip thisepisode altogether.
And if you are struggling withthoughts of suicide, please
remember.
That you are important and youare not alone.
In Australia you can callLifeline on 13 11 14, and if
(00:42):
you're elsewhere in the world,you can find international
crisis hotlines at'findahelpline.com'.
I'm approaching this episodeboth as a psychologist and as
someone who has spent yearsstudying the intersection of
psychology, spirituality, andscience.
My hope is to offer a way ofthinking about suicide
(01:04):
prevention that is not only moretruthful, but also more hopeful.
Welcome to the Integrated WisdomPodcast.
I am your host, Tatiana DaSilva, psychologist, spiritual
educator, and founder of a bodyof work devoted to lead others
(01:24):
to remembering what we nevertruly forgot, that science and
spirit were never separate.
They are each in their own way,expressions of the same sacred
architecture.
This podcast is for the quietrevolutionaries, the therapists,
the seekers, the spirituallydiscerning and scientifically
(01:48):
curious who know that we arebeing called into a new paradigm
for personal and collectivetransformation.
Together we explore what itmeans to live a coherent.
Soul led life drawing frompsychology, neuroscience,
epigenetics, energy medicine,and spiritual remembrance.
(02:11):
These aren't just conversations.
They are transmissions for thoseready to return to what's true,
to what's whole, and to what'squietly waiting beneath it.
Hello and welcome back to theIntegrated Wisdom Podcast.
Today we mark World SuicidePrevention Day.
(02:34):
Each year, over 700,000 peopledie by suicide worldwide and
countless more struggle quietlywith despair and hopelessness.
The theme this year is changingthe narrative on suicide, and
that's exactly what I want toexplore with you today.
How we can reframe ourunderstanding of despair.
(02:56):
And why reconnecting with ourspiritual core is a vital, yet
often overlooked part of suicideprevention.
We live in a time of globalconflict, disconnection, and
division.
For many, this creates aprofound sense of despair and
hopelessness.
(03:17):
Traditional mental healthtreatments are essential, but
they are not always enough.
Research consistently shows thatspirituality as defined as a
connection and awareness ofsomething greater than oneself,
acts as a buffer againsthopelessness and suicide.
But spirituality is rarely partof the conversation in clinical
(03:39):
care.
And so for me, changing thenarrative means expanding what
we see as protective.
Let's begin by grounding it inthe science.
Dr.
Lisa Miller at ColumbiaUniversity has spent over 20
years studying the relationshipbetween spirituality and mental
health.
(04:00):
Her findings are reallystriking.
People with these strongpersonal spirituality are up to
75% less likely to experiencerecurrent depression, and that
protective factor extends toresilience against addiction and
suicidality.
In fact, Dr.
Lisa Miller's research inconjunction with Dr.
(04:22):
David Shafer, also of ColumbiaUniversity.
I found that a high degree ofspirituality was the only factor
that protected againstsuicidality in teens.
Similarly, research on neardeath experiences led by Dr.
Bruce Grayson at the Universityof Virginia shows that people
(04:43):
who had these profoundexperiences often report reduced
fear of death, greater lifepurpose, and higher levels of
resilience.
And when we step back, both setsof findings convert on the same
point.
When people connect with thedeeper dimensions of life,
(05:04):
whether they call itspirituality, soul, or a
transcendent experience, theyare less likely to feel
overwhelmed by despair.
Science gives us this evidence,but there's also a lived
spiritual truth that manydifferent traditions affirm that
we are more than our suffering,more than our biology.
(05:28):
From this lens.
Challenges are not meaninglesspunishment.
They can be understood as partof our growth, our evolution as
beings of spirit.
And when we see life this way,pain and challenge don't
disappear, but they become morebearable.
Because they have context andmeaning.
(05:50):
When we understand ourselves inthis way, we reclaim agency and
challenges can be seen as partof our growth or evolution, not
meaningless pain, butopportunities to deepen
connection and purpose.
And you don't have to subscribeto an afterlife or the notion of
a soul journey to benefit fromthis perspective.
(06:12):
What matters is recognizingyourself as part of something
bigger and not alone in yourpain.
And I want to pause here andshare something that doesn't
always make it into the publicconversation.
Over the years, I've had severalclients tell me that even when
they desperately wanted to endtheir lives, there was a deep
(06:35):
inner knowing, almost a feltsense in their bones, that they
weren't allowed to, or that theycouldn't, that their life still
had lessons to unfold.
Or that leaving now would onlymean coming back to face the
same challenges again.
(06:55):
Now this is very different fromthe fear-based messages some of
us may have grown up with, likebeing told suicide is a mortal
sin.
What these clients describeisn't about punishment or fear
of damnation.
It's about a protectiveconviction that life has
meaning.
(07:15):
That their presence matters andthat their soul's journey isn't
complete.
For some people, that convictionalone has been enough to help
them pause, reach for support.
It doesn't replace safetyplanning, of course, or therapy
or medical care, but it doesremind us that for many
(07:38):
spirituality can be a profoundprotective factor in moments of
despair.
And that's exactly why we needto expand the narrative of
suicide prevention to includeit.
So what does this mean in actualpractice?
For some, it might meanreconnecting with prayer or
(07:58):
meditation, but for others itcould mean time in nature
journaling, or even simplypausing to ask, what's the
bigger picture here?
How is this moment part of mygrowth as a human being?
And even if you don't personallyresonate with the idea of being
(08:20):
an eternal spirit, what's mostimportant is that spirituality
in whatever form you engage in,can restore a sense of purpose
and agency, which is deeplyprotective in the face of
suffering.
Here are three approaches thatyou can start trying.
(08:40):
That are grounded in bothresearch and lived wisdom.
The first, which is my favorite,is a daily awe practice in Dr.
Lisa Miller's research and inother research on the impact of
experiencing awe in our mentalhealth and wellbeing.
(09:01):
The research shows that awestates can activate brain
regions linked to empathy,resilience, and openness.
And so to put it into practiceintentionally.
Look for something every daythat sparks awe in you.
At the end of each day, reflectand ask yourself, where did I
(09:26):
feel awe today?
It could be a beautiful sunset.
It could be a child's laughter,it could be a moving piece of
music.
It might have even been a momentof silence.
Just intentionally go out eachday looking for moments and
(09:47):
experiences that spark thatlittle bit of awe in you.
The second is reframing struggleas growth.
NDE survivors often reinterprettrauma or challenging
experiences as purposeful.
And so when confronted with achallenge or something that
(10:09):
you're grappling with, askyourself If this challenge were
shaping me to who I'm meant tobecome, what might they be
trying to teach me?
And thirdly.
Embed in your daily routine.
Spiritual anchors, rituals likeprayer, meditation, nature
(10:32):
walks, studying spiritual textsor even acts of service, all
provide grounding and thisconnection to a sense of
something larger than ourselvesthat we've been talking about.
Choose one anchor that resonatesmost with you.
Or that feels easiest to weaveinto your day-to-day routine and
(10:56):
then just commit to just five or10 minutes daily to that
particular anchor or practiceevery day for a week, and just
pay attention to any subtleshifts that you may observe.
Now, of course these practiceswill help in the moment, but
they're not designed to beone-offs.
So the more consistently youengage with approaching things
(11:18):
in this way, or weaving some ofthese practices into your daily
routine, the bigger thecumulative impact over time and
the protective impact over time.
These aren't abstract, they'redaily practices that anyone can
take up and you can see veryclearly from, The three
(11:39):
exercises that I've listed thatyou don't have to be affiliated
or attached to a particularspiritual perspective or
philosophy over time.
What they will do though isbuild a spiritual foundation
that will protect againstmoments of disconnection and
(12:00):
feelings of despair andoverwhelm.
So this world Suicide PreventionDay, the call to action is
clear.
We must expand the narrative.
Suicide prevention isn't justmedical, and it isn't just
psychological.
It is also deeply spiritual.
(12:23):
The data shows thatstrengthening our spiritual
lives protects againstdepression and suicide.
The lived experience shows thatit gives us hope and meaning.
And together they remind us youare more than your pain.
You're part of somethinggreater.
(12:44):
So what does it mean to trulychange the narrative on suicide?
It means honouring what thescience is showing us that
spirituality is not a fringebelief, but a built in strength
of the human brain.
I believe this deeply, and Dr.
Miller also says this often, weare all innately spiritual
(13:07):
beings, and the beauty is thather research data is backing
that up.
And so my vision is for a worldwhere suicide prevention doesn't
stop at crisis lines andmedications.
But expands to include thespiritual essence of what it
means to be human.
(13:29):
If you or someone you know isstruggling, please reach out to
a trusted friend, a therapist orcrisis line in your country.
You don't have to face thisalone.
And for all of us, theinvitation is simple.
Nurture your spiritualconnection.
It may be one of the mostpowerful tools we have to
(13:51):
navigate the human experienceand the tricky times that we are
living in currently.
Before I close, I just want toshare what's coming next week
because it's an expansion of thetheme of today.
Today we explored howspirituality can protect us in
our most personal struggles,including dispair and
(14:12):
suicidality, but spiritualitydoesn't just support us
individually.
I believe that it has a vitalrole to play in solving some of
the biggest challenges that weface collectively in our modern
world.
From the rise in loneliness anddisconnection to the mental
health crises.
To even how we approach conflictand climate change.
(14:36):
I'll be diving into how aspiritual perspective can help
us reimagine solutions and whythe integration of science and
spirituality may be one of themost important cultural shifts
of our time.
So if today's conversationsparked something for you, I
invite you back next week as weexpand from the personal to the
(14:57):
collective, from suicideprevention to soul level
transformation in ourcommunities and our world.
Thank you so much for listening,and remember, you were never
disconnected.
Only waiting to remember.
Thank you for tuning into thisepisode of Integrated Wisdom.
(15:20):
It is my sincere wish that thisepisode may have intrigued and
inspired you to reclaim yourpower and step into becoming
more fully integrated spiritualbeings.
New episodes are published everysecond Wednesday, and I hope
that you'll continue to join usas we dive deeper into what it
means to live an integratedlife.
If this space has stirredsomething in you, I invite you
(15:43):
to subscribe, share it withthose attuned to this path, and
explore the full body of work atintegratedwisdom.com au.
You can also find me onInstagram@WisdomwithTatiana,
where the conversationcontinues.
Until next time, staydiscerning, stay curious, and
(16:05):
let this be your reminder.
You were never disconnected.
Only waiting to remember.
Today's episode is tender and urgent.
We'll be talking about suicideand specifically about changing
the narrative on suicide.
Which is the theme for thisyear's World Suicide Prevention
Day.
if you're listening and this isa sensitive topic for you,
please take care of yourself.
(00:20):
If at any point it feelsoverwhelming, you can pause,
come back later, or skip thisepisode altogether.
And if you are struggling withthoughts of suicide, please
remember.
That you are important and youare not alone.
In Australia you can callLifeline on 13 11 14, and if
(00:42):
you're elsewhere in the world,you can find international
crisis hotlines at'findahelpline.com'.
I'm approaching this episodeboth as a psychologist and as
someone who has spent yearsstudying the intersection of
psychology, spirituality, andscience.
My hope is to offer a way ofthinking about suicide
(01:04):
prevention that is not only moretruthful, but also more hopeful.
Welcome to the Integrated WisdomPodcast.
I am your host, Tatiana DaSilva, psychologist, spiritual
educator, and founder of a bodyof work devoted to lead others
(01:24):
to remembering what we nevertruly forgot, that science and
spirit were never separate.
They are each in their own way,expressions of the same sacred
architecture.
This podcast is for the quietrevolutionaries, the therapists,
the seekers, the spirituallydiscerning and scientifically
(01:48):
curious who know that we arebeing called into a new paradigm
for personal and collectivetransformation.
Together we explore what itmeans to live a coherent.
Soul led life drawing frompsychology, neuroscience,
epigenetics, energy medicine,and spiritual remembrance.
(02:11):
These aren't just conversations.
They are transmissions for thoseready to return to what's true,
to what's whole, and to what'squietly waiting beneath it.
Hello and welcome back to theIntegrated Wisdom Podcast.
Today we mark World SuicidePrevention Day.
(02:34):
Each year, over 700,000 peopledie by suicide worldwide and
countless more struggle quietlywith despair and hopelessness.
The theme this year is changingthe narrative on suicide, and
that's exactly what I want toexplore with you today.
How we can reframe ourunderstanding of despair.
(02:56):
And why reconnecting with ourspiritual core is a vital, yet
often overlooked part of suicideprevention.
We live in a time of globalconflict, disconnection, and
division.
For many, this creates aprofound sense of despair and
hopelessness.
(03:17):
Traditional mental healthtreatments are essential, but
they are not always enough.
Research consistently shows thatspirituality as defined as a
connection and awareness ofsomething greater than oneself,
acts as a buffer againsthopelessness and suicide.
But spirituality is rarely partof the conversation in clinical
(03:39):
care.
And so for me, changing thenarrative means expanding what
we see as protective.
Let's begin by grounding it inthe science.
Dr.
Lisa Miller at ColumbiaUniversity has spent over 20
years studying the relationshipbetween spirituality and mental
health.
(04:00):
Her findings are reallystriking.
People with these strongpersonal spirituality are up to
75% less likely to experiencerecurrent depression, and that
protective factor extends toresilience against addiction and
suicidality.
In fact, Dr.
Lisa Miller's research inconjunction with Dr.
(04:22):
David Shafer, also of ColumbiaUniversity.
I found that a high degree ofspirituality was the only factor
that protected againstsuicidality in teens.
Similarly, research on neardeath experiences led by Dr.
Bruce Grayson at the Universityof Virginia shows that people
(04:43):
who had these profoundexperiences often report reduced
fear of death, greater lifepurpose, and higher levels of
resilience.
And when we step back, both setsof findings convert on the same
point.
When people connect with thedeeper dimensions of life,
(05:04):
whether they call itspirituality, soul, or a
transcendent experience, theyare less likely to feel
overwhelmed by despair.
Science gives us this evidence,but there's also a lived
spiritual truth that manydifferent traditions affirm that
we are more than our suffering,more than our biology.
(05:28):
From this lens.
Challenges are not meaninglesspunishment.
They can be understood as partof our growth, our evolution as
beings of spirit.
And when we see life this way,pain and challenge don't
disappear, but they become morebearable.
Because they have context andmeaning.
(05:50):
When we understand ourselves inthis way, we reclaim agency and
challenges can be seen as partof our growth or evolution, not
meaningless pain, butopportunities to deepen
connection and purpose.
And you don't have to subscribeto an afterlife or the notion of
a soul journey to benefit fromthis perspective.
(06:12):
What matters is recognizingyourself as part of something
bigger and not alone in yourpain.
And I want to pause here andshare something that doesn't
always make it into the publicconversation.
Over the years, I've had severalclients tell me that even when
they desperately wanted to endtheir lives, there was a deep
(06:35):
inner knowing, almost a feltsense in their bones, that they
weren't allowed to, or that theycouldn't, that their life still
had lessons to unfold.
Or that leaving now would onlymean coming back to face the
same challenges again.
(06:55):
Now this is very different fromthe fear-based messages some of
us may have grown up with, likebeing told suicide is a mortal
sin.
What these clients describeisn't about punishment or fear
of damnation.
It's about a protectiveconviction that life has
meaning.
(07:15):
That their presence matters andthat their soul's journey isn't
complete.
For some people, that convictionalone has been enough to help
them pause, reach for support.
It doesn't replace safetyplanning, of course, or therapy
or medical care, but it doesremind us that for many
(07:38):
spirituality can be a profoundprotective factor in moments of
despair.
And that's exactly why we needto expand the narrative of
suicide prevention to includeit.
So what does this mean in actualpractice?
For some, it might meanreconnecting with prayer or
(07:58):
meditation, but for others itcould mean time in nature
journaling, or even simplypausing to ask, what's the
bigger picture here?
How is this moment part of mygrowth as a human being?
And even if you don't personallyresonate with the idea of being
(08:20):
an eternal spirit, what's mostimportant is that spirituality
in whatever form you engage in,can restore a sense of purpose
and agency, which is deeplyprotective in the face of
suffering.
Here are three approaches thatyou can start trying.
(08:40):
That are grounded in bothresearch and lived wisdom.
The first, which is my favorite,is a daily awe practice in Dr.
Lisa Miller's research and inother research on the impact of
experiencing awe in our mentalhealth and wellbeing.
(09:01):
The research shows that awestates can activate brain
regions linked to empathy,resilience, and openness.
And so to put it into practiceintentionally.
Look for something every daythat sparks awe in you.
At the end of each day, reflectand ask yourself, where did I
(09:26):
feel awe today?
It could be a beautiful sunset.
It could be a child's laughter,it could be a moving piece of
music.
It might have even been a momentof silence.
Just intentionally go out eachday looking for moments and
(09:47):
experiences that spark thatlittle bit of awe in you.
The second is reframing struggleas growth.
NDE survivors often reinterprettrauma or challenging
experiences as purposeful.
And so when confronted with achallenge or something that
(10:09):
you're grappling with, askyourself If this challenge were
shaping me to who I'm meant tobecome, what might they be
trying to teach me?
And thirdly.
Embed in your daily routine.
Spiritual anchors, rituals likeprayer, meditation, nature
(10:32):
walks, studying spiritual textsor even acts of service, all
provide grounding and thisconnection to a sense of
something larger than ourselvesthat we've been talking about.
Choose one anchor that resonatesmost with you.
Or that feels easiest to weaveinto your day-to-day routine and
(10:56):
then just commit to just five or10 minutes daily to that
particular anchor or practiceevery day for a week, and just
pay attention to any subtleshifts that you may observe.
Now, of course these practiceswill help in the moment, but
they're not designed to beone-offs.
So the more consistently youengage with approaching things
(11:18):
in this way, or weaving some ofthese practices into your daily
routine, the bigger thecumulative impact over time and
the protective impact over time.
These aren't abstract, they'redaily practices that anyone can
take up and you can see veryclearly from, The three
(11:39):
exercises that I've listed thatyou don't have to be affiliated
or attached to a particularspiritual perspective or
philosophy over time.
What they will do though isbuild a spiritual foundation
that will protect againstmoments of disconnection and
(12:00):
feelings of despair andoverwhelm.
So this world Suicide PreventionDay, the call to action is
clear.
We must expand the narrative.
Suicide prevention isn't justmedical, and it isn't just
psychological.
It is also deeply spiritual.
(12:23):
The data shows thatstrengthening our spiritual
lives protects againstdepression and suicide.
The lived experience shows thatit gives us hope and meaning.
And together they remind us youare more than your pain.
You're part of somethinggreater.
(12:44):
So what does it mean to trulychange the narrative on suicide?
It means honouring what thescience is showing us that
spirituality is not a fringebelief, but a built in strength
of the human brain.
I believe this deeply, and Dr.
Miller also says this often, weare all innately spiritual
(13:07):
beings, and the beauty is thather research data is backing
that up.
And so my vision is for a worldwhere suicide prevention doesn't
stop at crisis lines andmedications.
But expands to include thespiritual essence of what it
means to be human.
(13:29):
If you or someone you know isstruggling, please reach out to
a trusted friend, a therapist orcrisis line in your country.
You don't have to face thisalone.
And for all of us, theinvitation is simple.
Nurture your spiritualconnection.
It may be one of the mostpowerful tools we have to
(13:51):
navigate the human experienceand the tricky times that we are
living in currently.
Before I close, I just want toshare what's coming next week
because it's an expansion of thetheme of today.
Today we explored howspirituality can protect us in
our most personal struggles,including dispair and
(14:12):
suicidality, but spiritualitydoesn't just support us
individually.
I believe that it has a vitalrole to play in solving some of
the biggest challenges that weface collectively in our modern
world.
From the rise in loneliness anddisconnection to the mental
health crises.
To even how we approach conflictand climate change.
(14:36):
I'll be diving into how aspiritual perspective can help
us reimagine solutions and whythe integration of science and
spirituality may be one of themost important cultural shifts
of our time.
So if today's conversationsparked something for you, I
invite you back next week as weexpand from the personal to the
(14:57):
collective, from suicideprevention to soul level
transformation in ourcommunities and our world.
Thank you so much for listening,and remember, you were never
disconnected.
Only waiting to remember.
Thank you for tuning into thisepisode of Integrated Wisdom.
(15:20):
It is my sincere wish that thisepisode may have intrigued and
inspired you to reclaim yourpower and step into becoming
more fully integrated spiritualbeings.
New episodes are published everysecond Wednesday, and I hope
that you'll continue to join usas we dive deeper into what it
means to live an integratedlife.
If this space has stirredsomething in you, I invite you
(15:43):
to subscribe, share it withthose attuned to this path, and
explore the full body of work atintegratedwisdom.com au.
You can also find me onInstagram@WisdomwithTatiana,
where the conversationcontinues.
Until next time, staydiscerning, stay curious, and
(16:05):
let this be your reminder.
You were never disconnected.
Only waiting to remember.
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