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How To Respond When Someone Discloses Suicidal Thoughts

In this deeply resonant episode of Therapists Unhinged, Tiffanie Trudeau, LMHC from Connected Thriving Counseling and Wellness joins the show during Suicide Prevention Month to discuss one of the most misunderstood and important topics in mental health. Tiffanie shares her expertise and lived experience around how to hold space when someone discloses suicidal thoughts. This is not about fixing or saving. It’s about listening with compassion, dropping the performance, and showing up in truth. Raw, wise, and totally unfiltered, this conversation is for anyone who wants to be a safe place for someone in pain.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Silence is not neutrality, it’s danger
• People disclosing suicidal thoughts do not expect you to fix it
• Listening and presence are more powerful than solutions
• Nonverbal empathy is a core part of holding space
• Not all signs of suicidality look like the checklist
• “I’m tired” or “I wish I could sleep forever” are often flags
• Asking directly about suicidal thoughts does not plant the idea
• Loved ones must resist the urge to personalize or panic
• Faith communities can sometimes shut down emotional honesty
• Safe spaces are built through consistent, authentic connection

BEST MOMENTS
00:00:03. “They’re not coming to you for a solution.”
00:00:58. “Silence is the real killer here and we need to talk about it.”
00:05:11. “I’m just so tired. I’m tired of doing this.”
00:09:31. “Thank you for trusting me with that part of your heart.”
00:14:47. “Secrets keep you sick. So we don’t keep anybody’s secrets.”
00:21:36. “Emotions are messengers. And even though they’re messy, they’re coming with a message.”
00:26:48. “Your siblings had a different experience in the same family.”
00:35:11. “They don’t feel like the world can withstand the messy wall behind the mask.”
00:40:05. “Silence increases the chances it will happen, not talking about it.”
00:50:14. “We don’t fear it so much that we push it away. We welcome it into the room.”

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Therapists Unhinged is where mental health gets real. Hosted by licensed therapists who tell it like it is, this podcast dives deep into the messy, meaningful, and hilarious parts of being human. From mastering resilience to navigating the chaos of everyday life, we bring raw conversations, expert insights, and unfiltered honesty...no jargon, no BS.

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