Episode 416: “Suicide Attempt: Moving Forward With Hope” with Author Bill Konigsberg
09/21/21 • 38 min
In the final episode of season four and to close out the Another Day With You campaign, we talk to someone who attempted suicide at the age of 27 and went on to write a book inspired by his own experience. That person is author Bill Konigsberg and that book is The Bridge. In our conversation, you’ll hear about Bill’s chronic, untreated depression which led to an attempt, and how writing the book became a way to dispel the lies his brain was telling him while encouraging readers to realize how valuable and interwoven their lives truly are.
Along with The Bridge, Bill is the author of five young-adult novels, which have won awards including the Stonewall Book Award, the Sid Fleischman Award for Humor, and the Lambda Literary Award. He currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with his husband, Chuck, and their two Labradoodles, Mabel and Buford—who you might hear barking in the background during the interview.
Show Notes (Links of ours and guests):
Download a transcript of this episode at twloha.com/podcast.
Follow TWLOHA on social media at:
facebook.com/towriteloveonherarms/
Visit our FIND HELP page of mental health resources at twloha.com/find-help/.
Get connected for free, 24/7 to a trained crisis counselor via Crisis Text Line by texting TWLOHA to 741741.
Connect with our team by emailing [email protected].
Learn more about the podcast and previous episodes at twloha.com/podcast.
Read Bill’s words on the TWLOHA at twloha.com/blog/stay-another-day/.
Purchase The Bridge by going to store.twloha.com and typing in The Bridge in the search bar.
Learn more about and connect with author Bill Konigsberg at billkonigsberg.com/about/.
Visit store.twloha.com/ to purchase merchandise that supports TWLOHA’s mission.
Download The Hopeful, a free daily-use self-care app from TWLOHA, at twloha.com/thehopeful/.
Credits:
This episode of the TWLOHA podcast was hosted by Chad Moses and produced by Rebecca Ebert. Music assistance was provided by James Likeness and Ben Tichenor.
In the final episode of season four and to close out the Another Day With You campaign, we talk to someone who attempted suicide at the age of 27 and went on to write a book inspired by his own experience. That person is author Bill Konigsberg and that book is The Bridge. In our conversation, you’ll hear about Bill’s chronic, untreated depression which led to an attempt, and how writing the book became a way to dispel the lies his brain was telling him while encouraging readers to realize how valuable and interwoven their lives truly are.
Along with The Bridge, Bill is the author of five young-adult novels, which have won awards including the Stonewall Book Award, the Sid Fleischman Award for Humor, and the Lambda Literary Award. He currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with his husband, Chuck, and their two Labradoodles, Mabel and Buford—who you might hear barking in the background during the interview.
Show Notes (Links of ours and guests):
Download a transcript of this episode at twloha.com/podcast.
Follow TWLOHA on social media at:
facebook.com/towriteloveonherarms/
Visit our FIND HELP page of mental health resources at twloha.com/find-help/.
Get connected for free, 24/7 to a trained crisis counselor via Crisis Text Line by texting TWLOHA to 741741.
Connect with our team by emailing [email protected].
Learn more about the podcast and previous episodes at twloha.com/podcast.
Read Bill’s words on the TWLOHA at twloha.com/blog/stay-another-day/.
Purchase The Bridge by going to store.twloha.com and typing in The Bridge in the search bar.
Learn more about and connect with author Bill Konigsberg at billkonigsberg.com/about/.
Visit store.twloha.com/ to purchase merchandise that supports TWLOHA’s mission.
Download The Hopeful, a free daily-use self-care app from TWLOHA, at twloha.com/thehopeful/.
Credits:
This episode of the TWLOHA podcast was hosted by Chad Moses and produced by Rebecca Ebert. Music assistance was provided by James Likeness and Ben Tichenor.
Previous Episode
Episode 415: “Suicide Prevention: Why Do You Stay Another Day?”
When the pandemic altered nearly every part of daily life, we wondered what it would mean for those struggling, for those currently fighting to stay alive. A mental health crisis already existed and the pandemic only made it more glaringly obvious. The collective trauma and loss nearly doubled the number of people having thoughts of suicide and experiencing depression compared to previous years.
One bright spot, a moment of tragic optimism, is that this shared experience made talking about mental health almost a normal part of everyday life. We were surprised to see moments where the polite, “How are you?” was not expected to be met with an unassuming “fine.”
Over the course of the next few episodes, in honor of TWLOHA’s Another Day With You campaign and World Suicide Prevention Day—which is this Friday, September 10th, we’re using this space to have conversations that challenge the lie that says we can’t or shouldn’t talk about suicide. We want to share real-life experiences as they relate to suicide attempts, loss, and ideation.
For today’s episode, instead of a one-on-one interview, we’re doing something a little different. We’ve invited an array of voices to share some heartfelt responses to some questions: 1. Who or what has helped you stay another day? And 2. What would you say to someone who is finding it difficult to stay another day? Their responses are honest and unique, but there is often, and perhaps unsurprisingly, a common occurrence of hope. If some responses don’t resonate with you, that’s OK. Because our desire is for even just one message, one encouragement you hear to inspire you or someone you care about, to stay for another day.
Show Notes (Links of ours and guests):
Download a transcript of this episode at twloha.com/podcast.
Follow TWLOHA on social media at:
facebook.com/towriteloveonherarms/
Visit our FIND HELP page of mental health resources at twloha.com/find-help/.
Get connected for free, 24/7 to a trained crisis counselor via Crisis Text Line by texting TWLOHA to 741741.
Connect with our team by emailing [email protected].
Learn more about the podcast and previous episodes at twloha.com/podcast.
Learn more about the Another Day With You campaign at twloha.com/wspd.
Visit store.twloha.com/ to purchase merchandise that supports TWLOHA’s mission.
Download The Hopeful, a free daily-use self-care app from TWLOHA, at twloha.com/thehopeful/.
Credits:
This episode of the TWLOHA podcast was hosted by Chad Moses and produced by Rebecca Ebert. Music assistance was provided by James Likeness and Ben Tichenor.
Next Episode
Episode 501: “Grief: What’s Loved, Lost, and Left” with Vivian Nuñez, Megan Fernandes, and LMFT Eric Adams
In the premiere episode of season five, we’re addressing the topic of grief. Contrary to popular belief, grief comes in many forms, it impacts people in varying ways, and it does not have to stem from the loss of a loved one. Grief is the thing that we feel and experience in the absence of something or someone we love—a pet, a relationship, a parent, a job, a home. To help us explore, identify, and even learn how to navigate grief through creativity, we’ll be joined by content creator Vivian Nuñez, reporter Megan Fernandes, and therapist Eric Adams.
Megan Fernandes is an award-winning business and community news reporter that has worked in newsrooms across the country. For a long time, Megan thought that her purpose was to share the stories of others, but after losing her mother to cancer in January of 2020, Megan turned to memoir writing and poetry as a way to cope with her grief and tell her own story. She now writes to share her struggles in coping with grief, mental health, and trauma to normalize these conversations and remind others that they are not alone.
Vivian Nuñez is a writer, content creator, and dog mom. Her award-winning Instagram community has created pathways for speaking on traditionally taboo topics, like mental health and grief, but don’t worry she’s also really funny. While her humor is a cross between Chandler Bing and Phoebe’s mom jokes, she’s also one with TikTok trends, dog videos, and how much fun it is to be creative. Her life and work are rooted in the simple truth that life’s a lot more livable when you get to play outside the box.
Eric Adams is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at Mental Edge Counseling in Dover, Delaware.
Show Notes (Links of ours and guests):
Download a transcript of this episode at twloha.com/podcast.
Follow TWLOHA on social media at:
facebook.com/towriteloveonherarms/
Visit our FIND HELP page of mental health resources at twloha.com/find-help/.
Get connected for free, 24/7 to a trained crisis counselor via Crisis Text Line by texting TWLOHA to 741741.
Connect with our team by emailing [email protected].
Learn more about the podcast and previous episodes at twloha.com/podcast.
Download TWLOHA’s daily-use self-care app, The Hopeful, at
Read Megan Fernandes’ blog at twloha.com/blog/author/megan-fernandes/.
Purchase a guided grief journal by going to amazon.com/Navigating-Grief-Journal-Exercises-Reflection/dp/1648763162.
Listen to “Supermarket Flowers” by Ed Sheeran by visiting youtu.be/3Mk0F6mLKik.
Learn more about Vivian Nuñez by visiting vivnunez.com/ or following her at instagram.com/vivnunez/.
Credits:
This episode of the TWLOHA podcast was hosted by Chad Moses and produced by Rebecca Ebert. Music assistance was provided by James Likeness and Ben Tichenor.
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