5. Suicide

**TRIGGER WARNING** This episode contains candid discussions about suicide. We recommend ensuring your own safety before engaging with this episode. If you’re in crisis, call 911 or 833-456-4566 if you are not in need of immediate medical help.

This episode has been one we’ve been trying to record since season 1. It’s arguably one of the most important episodes we’ve ever done. Our society doesn’t talk about suicide enough, nor are we given the tools about how to talk about suicide safely - we want to change that. We use proper terminology, don’t talk about the method, and break the stigma and shame around suicidal ideation and attempts. After surviving three suicide attempts, and then losing a friend to suicide, Ameera discusses the trauma around that and the hardship of the aftermath of suicide. We talk about the importance of safety plans, a support system, and navigating the in between passive/casual ideation state where you’re not in crisis, but you’re still not okay. We touch on the dangers of calling 911, especially for BIPOC, when there have been so many police killings during wellness checks while also recognizing that crisis supports are needed when someone’s life is in danger.