Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW

03/31/2025

This year’s suicidology conference is profoundly special for me. I’m a keynote speaker, which is already special. Also, it’s the 20-year conference-versary with my husband Pete, a fellow suicidologist. We got together at the AAS conference in 2005 in Denver, and we married a little over a year later.

I’m grateful to celebrate two decades with Pete, and to give my keynote talk on Wednesday, “How to (Want to) Stay Alive in Dark Times.”❤️

02/09/2025

What keeps you going in hard times? This blog post shares others' reasons for living and invites you to share yours, if you're so inclined.

These days, anyone of any political persuasion can find reasons to despair. Dramatic social upheaval. Climate change. Wars. Artificial intelligence. Mondays. If you wish you could die, or if you outright think of killing yourself, what keeps you going? In another post, I asked, “What stops you fro...

02/03/2025

I’m in awe of AnneMoss Nimocks Rogers for speaking so honestly in this guest post about responding to her son Charles in a way she now regrets. Of course, Charles’ tragic su***de still might have occurred even if she’d responded differently to his pain. But it’s so generous of her to share her painfully earned wisdom, because it’s true: depression and suicidal thoughts don’t go away just because someone wishes they would.😢

https://speakingofsu***de.com/2025/02/03/toxic-positivity/

09/30/2024

Almost 80 percent of su***des are completed by men. 80%. Men’s higher rates of su***de bring up two crucial questions: Why are so many men killing themselves? And why aren’t we, as a society, more focused on su***de in men?

09/23/2024

New blog post!

No, su***de isn't always preventable. It's often preventable. That statement acknowledges our limitations, but also the precious opportunities we have to help.

09/12/2024

Check out this new podcast interview, in honor of Su***de Prevention Month

In this episode, we connect with Dr. Stacey Freedenthal, a psychotherapist, educator, writer, consultant, and speaker who specializes in helping people at risk for su***de.

09/08/2024

New blog post!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/QgQkHDkA8fZGmV5v/

After a child has attempted su***de, parents and caregivers agonize about how to help prevent this nightmare from happening again. Here are some tips, based on my own practice as a psychotherapist helping people with suicidal thoughts and behavior, and based on the recently released film After Your....

09/04/2024

New guest post on my website Speaking of Su***de!

Susan Auerbach lost her son Noah to su***de 11 years ago. Here's how she's coped with -- and grown from -- from the devastating loss.

07/04/2024

Discovering our campus is a breeze, whether you’re a high-schooler thinking about attending DU, an admitted student learning your way around, or a teacher or counselor setting up a group visit.

02/27/2024

My site www.speakingofsu***de.com has a new look! I hope it can help you or someone you know who is touched, in one way or another, by su***de.

A site for suicidal individuals and their loved ones, su***de attempt survivors, su***de loss survivors, mental health professionals, & the merely curious

01/24/2024

About 40% of psychotherapy clients with suicidal thoughts don't tell their therapist they're thinking of su***de, per one study. Here are tips on what to do if you're worried your client is keeping SI secret.

People with suicidal thoughts often keep them secret—even from their therapists. Many times, they believe any expression of suicidal thoughts, no matter the intensity, will get them hospitalized. Other times, they may fear you’ll think they’re weak, attention-seeking, or "crazy."

01/16/2024

People often are advised to treat ALL suicidal thoughts as an emergency and call 911. But, as Stacey Freedenthal discusses here, this can close the door to having an actual conversation. Obviously, if someone's in immediate danger, call 911 or the national su***de line at 988. Otherwise, this is a precious opportunity to listen to the person.

This video was recorded at a Q & A at Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver, CO, during the book launch for Loving Someone with Suicidal Thoughts: What Family, Friends, and Partners Can Say and Do.

People often are advised to treat ALL suicidal thoughts as an emergency and call 911. But, as Stacey Freedenthal discusses here, this can close the door to h...