Giving Voice to Depression: Real Stories & Expert Support for Depression and Mental Health

Retired California Highway Patrol officer Kevin Briggs , often called “The Guardian of the Golden Gate” , has been on the frontlines of suicide prevention for decades. In this powerful conversation, Kevin shares his personal battle with depression and PTSD, the lessons he learned from speaking with hundreds of people on the Golden Gate Bridge, and how listening, empathy, and hope can truly save li...

What happens when a stranger chooses compassion in a moment of crisis? This episode continues the extraordinary true story of Johnny and Neil—two men whose lives changed forever on a bridge in London. In Part Two, Johnny reflects on the aftermath of that day, the struggles that followed, and the small but powerful moments of hope that kept him moving forward. Listeners will hear how one conversati...

In this moving episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Bridget and Terry share a powerful first-person story of empathy, compassion, and suicide prevention. When Johnny, a young man in the UK, sat on a bridge planning to end his life, a stranger named Neil stopped to listen. Without training, but with deep compassion, Neil offered empathy in a way Johnny had never experienced before—reminding him...

In this special season wrap-up, Bridget and Terry reflect on some of the most powerful conversations and lessons from Season Two of Giving Voice to Depression . From learning that depression doesn’t define us, to hearing how storytelling reduces stigma, to gaining insights from experts on suicide prevention and stigma research, this review episode captures the heart of the season’s themes: connect...

Depression doesn’t always look the same—and managing it often requires persistence, patience, and support. In this episode, Liz , 58, shares her powerful journey through two different forms of depression: one triggered by grief and trauma that gradually lifted, and another caused by chemical imbalance that required treatment with therapy and medication. Liz explains how she built a toolbox of copi...

Depression is full of contradictions: loneliness mixed with withdrawal, hunger without appetite, the need for support alongside the fear of asking for it. In this episode, Ben , a 28-year-old Brooklyn artist living with both bipolar disorder and depression , shares his story of navigating those contradictions while learning how to give and receive help. He describes how changes in medication once...

In this episode, we dive deep into the reality of compassion fatigue, emotional exhaustion, and burnout—especially for caregivers, healthcare workers, and anyone who supports others through mental health struggles. Guest Adelle shares her personal journey of reaching the edge of exhaustion and the difficult lessons learned along the way. Together, we unpack how emotional overextension can lead to...

What does depression really feel like? For Sarah, it’s more than sadness—it’s a sudden drop into worthlessness, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts. In this deeply honest conversation, Sarah shares her “no BS” approach to talking about depression, how stigma makes asking for help harder than fixing a leaky faucet, and why naming depression out loud helps strip it of its power. She opens up about h...

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Bridget and Terry share part two of the documentary Not Alone , where teens open up about living with depression, suicidal thoughts, and the powerful journey of seeking help. Through raw and vulnerable stories, we hear how isolation, stigma, and the pressures of social media can deepen despair—while connection, therapy, support, and community can pro...

Teen suicide is now the second leading cause of death among young people ages 15–24, yet too often conversations about it are avoided out of stigma and fear. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , we begin a two-part series featuring the powerful documentary Not Alone , which shares raw and real stories from teens living with depression and suicidal thoughts. You’ll hear candid voices of...

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Bridget and Terry continue their two-part series on suicide prevention with Dr. Barbara Moser, chair of Prevent Suicide Greater Milwaukee. They move beyond recognizing warning signs and risk factors to discuss what to do when someone says they are suicidal . Dr. Moser emphasizes the importance of asking direct, compassionate questions , reducing acce...

September is National Suicide Prevention Month , and in this special episode of Giving Voice to Depression , we begin a two-part series dedicated to one of the most urgent mental health topics of our time: suicide prevention. Dr. Barbara Moser, a family physician and chair of the Prevent Suicide Greater Milwaukee Coalition, joins Bridget and Terry to discuss what suicide prevention really means, h...

Finding the right depression treatment is often described as a guessing game—trial and error with medications that may take weeks to work, only to leave patients discouraged. But what if a simple blood test could point you to the antidepressant most likely to help you? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Madhukar Trivedi , Director of the Depression Center at UT Southwestern Brain Institute, to...

Depression is not a normal part of aging—but for many seniors, it becomes a silent struggle. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , we hear the courageous voice of Mary, a 93-year-old mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, who spoke openly about her experience with depression in late life. Mary’s story reveals how stigma and generational silence have kept many older adults from seeki...

When Jennifer Marshall first experienced mania, she didn’t know what was happening. Hospitalized on Christmas Day, she began a long journey through bipolar disorder, depression, and the stigma that often comes with a mental health diagnosis. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Jennifer shares how she went from feeling isolated and involuntarily hospitalized to co-founding This Is My Br...

In this powerful episode of Giving Voice to Depression , we sit down with Dr. Robert Duff—known online as Duff the Psych —to explore practical and approachable strategies for coping with depression. Dr. Duff, author of the popular Hardcore Self-Help series, explains why depression can feel like a parasite, draining energy and fueling cycles of guilt. He shares simple, effective tools you can start...

What does it feel like to live with both bipolar disorder and depression —and what kind of support actually helps during the darkest days? In this episode, 28-year-old Brooklyn artist Ben shares his lived experience of navigating depressive episodes, adjusting to medication changes, and building a “toolbox” of coping skills, including therapy, biking, and mindfulness practices. Ben also opens up a...

Depression has a voice—a cruel, convincing voice that whispers (or shouts) lies about our worth, our future, and our place in the world. In this deeply personal episode, co-host Terry shares her own story of living through depression’s relentless attacks. From waking up each morning to self-hate mantras, to reaching a terrifying moment when she considered letting her life quietly end, Terry descri...

Not all depression looks the same. Some people appear successful, outgoing, and “perfectly fine” while silently carrying deep emotional pain. Clinical psychologist Dr. Margaret Rutherford calls this Perfectly Hidden Depression —a pattern of perfectionism, over-responsibility, and emotional avoidance that hides the reality of depression behind a flawless façade. In this episode, Dr. Rutherford expl...

Is education enough to fight the stigma of depression and mental illness? Dr. Patrick Corrigan, a leading researcher on stigma, says no. In fact, research shows that teaching people mental illness is a “brain disease” can actually make stigma worse. What does work? Real, face-to-face stories of people living with depression and mental health conditions—stories that include both the struggle and th...

Liz thought her pain was something she had to power through—until someone helped her name it. This episode explores how she found real support, advocated for herself, and now uses her voice to help others find hope and healing. Primary Topics Covered: The difference between grief-related and clinical depression What it means to live with depression that doesn’t go away How someone else helped Liz...

What happens when a personal story about depression changes the way a clinician approaches suicide prevention? In this Ripple Report, Patrick Doyle, a clinical social worker, explains how reading Terry’s article about suicidal thoughts transformed the way he listens to clients and reframes his questions. Instead of simply asking, “Do you have suicidal thoughts?” he now asks, “Do you ever think of...

Join us as we explore how shifting the question from “Are you suicidal?” to “Do you find yourself thinking of death as a welcome relief?” can open life-saving conversations. Terry shares her powerful personal story, and we hear how one changed question led to a breakthrough moment on a crisis line. Primary Topics Covered: The limitations of traditional suicide assessment questions A more insightfu...

Season one of Giving Voice to Depression brought together deeply moving, honest, and powerful stories from people living with depression—and those impacted by it. In this special episode, co-hosts Bridget and Terry look back at the lessons, insights, and courage shared across the season. From the risks of keeping family mental health struggles a secret, to the reality of stigma in schools and work...

We often hear about postpartum depression, but what about antepartum depression —the depression that strikes during pregnancy? In this powerful episode, Isabelle shares her deeply personal experience with depression while expecting her child, a reality many mothers face but few feel safe to discuss. Isabelle talks about the heavy stigma surrounding maternal mental health, the guilt of not feeling...