This episode features an emotional and deeply personal conversation about the cost of secrecy.

Guest Deb Sherwood lost her husband, Bob, by suicide after a long battle with illness. Deb, a journalist, bravely shares their story, revealing the complex and traumatic aftermath that comes with a death by suicide.

She and the hosts, Terry and her co-host at the time, Brigitte, discuss the unique challenges suicide loss survivors face, including the trauma of a sudden death, recurring thoughts, and the crushing weight of stigma, shame, and isolation. Deb recounts the painful experience of being a "person of interest" in her own home and the profound guilt she felt after a seemingly innocent comment made to her husband just hours before his death.

For a year, she kept the truth of his death a secret, which she now believes delayed her own healing process. Deb emphasizes that talking about suicide is a crucial step in healing and hopes her story will help others navigate their own grief, encouraging them to find support and not suffer in silence. The hosts also touch on the importance of having resources and support available, highlighting an article from Harvard Medical School on the unique nature of suicide grief.

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Meg Kissinger, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of a powerful memoir, shares her family's unique and moving story about living with serious mental illness.

She talks openly about losing two siblings to suicide, and how her experiences as both a sister and an investigative journalist shaped her understanding of the US mental health system.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who believes that having honest conversations about depression and mental illness can help create a world where no one feels alone.

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This powerful episode of Giving Voice to Depression, features a brave guest named John who offers insights into about a seldom-discussed topic: forgiving yourself after a suicide attempt.

John, a 54-year-old from Canada, shares his personal story of depression and a suicide attempt nearly four years ago. He candidly explains that while his young son immediately forgave him, he's struggled to extend that same grace to himself.

The conversation explores the lingering feelings of unworthiness, guilt, and shame that remain long after the initial crisis has passed. Despite being in a healthier place and actively working on his recovery through therapy and self-compassion exercises, John feels a stubborn block to self-forgiveness.

He describes the persistent negative self-talk as a constant battle and admits he's still searching for the "magic tool" that will finally help him let go.

The episode is a raw and honest look at the messy reality of recovery, a path that isn't always linear. John's story is a testament to the fact that while progress can be made, some parts of the healing journey can take time.

It's a critical discussion for anyone who has experienced similar struggles, offering a powerful message of hope: even when self-forgiveness feels out of reach, continuing to work toward recovery is a sign of strength and resilience.

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In this episode of the Giving Voice to Depression podcast, hosts Terry and Carly speak with guest David Shamszad about his journey with a dual diagnosis—living with both Bipolar Disorder and a substance use disorder.

David shares his personal story of how he used alcohol to self-medicate and cope with the extreme highs of mania and the devastating lows of depression before he was formally diagnosed. He describes how his manic episodes, though they felt fun and energized at the time, led to serious consequences, and his depressive episodes left him feeling paralyzed and hopeless.

The turning point for David came after a frightening, "scared-straight" incident while intoxicated. He realized that his drinking was not just a coping mechanism, but was putting his own life and others' in danger. This moment of clarity prompted him to get sober, a decision he describes as removing "handcuffs" that had prevented him from truly addressing his mental health.

The conversation highlights the stigma surrounding mental health, especially for men, and the importance of finding a safe space to be vulnerable. David emphasizes that recovery is not an overnight process but an accumulation of "steady drops of the right message"—from therapy, books, and supportive conversations. Carly and Terry further discuss this idea, comparing it to watering a dry plant, where small, consistent efforts are more effective than a sudden, overwhelming pour.

Ultimately, the episode serves as a powerful testament to the possibility of recovery, even from deeply ingrained dual diagnoses, and encourages listeners to seek support, embrace vulnerability, and understand that healing is a gradual, ongoing journey.

Explore mental health and addiction treatment options: https://recovery.com/
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/
Terry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

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 help you calm your nervous system, manage transitions, and respond to difficult moments with greater resilience. Whether you’re struggling with daily overwhelm or seeking preventive strategies, this episode offers practical techniques that can become part of your mental health toolkit.

Primary Topics Covered:

• Introduction to no-cost, research-backed mental health tools
• Guided three-minute mindful breathing exercise
• STOP practice for managing daily transitions and stress
• Self-compassion break: mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness
• How mindfulness and self-compassion work together for healing

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and mission of Giving Voice to Depression
01:20 – Framing the episode: free, accessible mental health tools
02:06 – Dr. Barbara Moser introduces mindfulness practices
02:42 – Three-minute mindful breathing and calming exercise
09:21 – How breathwork engages the parasympathetic nervous system
10:14 – STOP practice: pause, breathe, observe, and proceed
14:22 – Using STOP for daily transitions and relationships
14:32 – Guided self-compassion break with three core elements
18:40 – Recognizing common humanity in moments of struggle
20:03 – Practicing self-kindness and supportive self-talk
22:32 – Closing reflections and invitation to community support

Explore mental health and addiction treatment options: https://recovery.com/
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/
Terry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

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: friends who refused to let him disappear, learning the language to describe his struggles, and finding mental health support that gave him tools to heal. He offers raw but practical advice about managing depression, breaking free from isolation, and building a supportive community.

This conversation sheds light on the destructive overlap of bullying and depression while reminding us that connection, compassion, and even small shifts — like going for a walk — can make a life-saving difference.

If you’ve ever struggled to explain depression to someone else, or if you’re supporting a loved one who feels stuck in darkness, Kevin’s story provides both validation and hope.

Primary Topics Covered:

• How bullying and undiagnosed ADD fueled Kevin’s depression
• The impact of isolation on mental health and empathy
• Finding hope through community, friendship, and support
• Practical tools for interrupting depression’s cycles
• Why disclosure and openness can reduce stigma and isolation
• The power of small shifts, like walks and connection, in healing

Timestamps:

00:01:15 – Introduction to Kevin’s story: bullying, isolation, and depression
00:02:58 – Childhood signals of depression and the role of bullying
00:04:55 – The dangers of ignoring bullying and its isolating effects
00:06:25 – Building true friendships that interrupted depression’s cycle
00:08:02 – How Kevin’s depression manifested and became paralyzing
00:09:38 – Strategies to “trick” depression: filling the calendar, asking for support
00:10:35 – Why disclosure lessens depression’s hold and reduces isolation
00:11:19 – Addiction, self-medication, and the search for relief
00:13:11 – Tools from 12-Step programs and the role of community
00:14:36 – Hypnosis, depression, and the “parasite” metaphor
00:14:49 – Two life-or-death turning points in Kevin’s journey
00:16:31 – Why “It can be different” is more powerful than “Be happy”
00:20:17 – The role of small, simple shifts like walking and connection
00:23:21 – How bullying echoes depression’s lies and reinforces hopelessness
00:25:36 – Absolutist thinking: both a symptom and contributor to depression
00:26:24 – Closing reflections: compassion, language, and concrete support

Explore mental health and addiction treatment options: https://recovery.com/
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/
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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 self-talk, and open communication with loved ones, as well as the role her husband and community have played in her journey. Rebecca also highlights the need to recognize progress—no matter how small—and the ongoing work of fighting stigma.

This rerun is a reminder that while depression can distort our perspective, recovery and hope are possible.

Primary Topics Covered:

• Why it’s often hard to recognize progress while living with depression or bipolar disorder
• Rebecca’s reflections on 10 years without hospitalization or self-harm
• The role of loved ones in supporting recovery
• Positive self-talk, therapy, and self-awareness as essential coping strategies
• How writing, advocacy, and community helped Rebecca reduce shame and find purpose
• The importance of self-care and redefining what “success” looks like in recovery

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to the episode and the power of hope
01:25 – Guest introduction: Rebecca Lombardo’s return update
03:18 – Reflecting on a decade since her last hospitalization
04:25 – The ongoing challenge of living with bipolar disorder
05:29 – Why negative thoughts feel easier to believe than positive ones
07:05 – Celebrating 10 years of progress and accomplishments
08:01 – Feeling like a burden vs. recognizing depression’s lies
09:23 – Positive self-talk and open communication with loved ones
10:30 – The impact of her past suicide attempt on her husband
11:48 – Choosing to live for herself as well as others
12:29 – The work beyond medication: therapy, self-awareness, and learning
13:58 – Helping others through advocacy and writing
15:05 – Hopes for the next decade of life and advocacy
16:54 – Advice for listeners currently struggling
18:44 – Rebecca’s blog reflections and practical tools for healing
19:21 – Dr. Anita Sanz on the importance of therapy beyond medication
22:01 – Closing remarks and upcoming Suicide Prevention Awareness Month focus

Explore mental health and addiction treatment options: https://recovery.com/
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/
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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 a chronic condition, and the healing that comes when families normalize talking about mental health. This candid dialogue offers validation and encouragement for anyone navigating depression within the context of family history.

Primary Topics Covered:

• Genetics, trauma, and their role in intergenerational depression
• Why families often avoid mental health conversations
• Early signs of anxiety and depression in children
• How parenting with depression changes perspective and priorities
• Challenging stigma through openness and humor
• Trauma as both a family and cultural experience
• The power of naming and normalizing depression in loved ones

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to the episode and why it’s different
01:12 Stigma around depression in families
03:57 Childhood memories of anxiety and gratitude practices
08:36 Depression going unnamed and misunderstood in families
12:56 Parenting while living with depression
16:18 Mental health days and challenging the wellness binary
20:28 How trauma and silence carry forward across generations
24:52 Understanding trauma as individual, family, and cultural
27:31 Closing reflections on responsibility, acceptance, and love

Explore mental health and addiction treatment options: https://recovery.com/
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/
Terry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/