Eric Garretson
The Suicide Jounal
About 8 years ago i had a dear friend take his own life. There were many things that led to his decision that made a person think to themselves, "I understand why he did it." He left a not sort of just airing his grievances, but recently I came accros a journal that he kept and wrote in daily. It is the last year of his life. What this podcast is going to do is to take the entries that have significance to him ultimately commiting suicide, and breaking them down and coming up with better ways it could have been handled. Hopefully serving as a playbook to prevent it in the future.
Author
Eric Garretson
Category
Podcast website
Latest episode
Jan 4, 2026
Where to listen?
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Episodes
The Shape Of Ordinary 04.01.2026 42:57
In the quiet aftermath of grief, Sarah and Eli begin their first semester at community college. September unfolds not with drama, but with rhythm, shared coffee, library study sessions, and the slow return of laughter. As Eli's father takes steps towards healing. This episode is about the quiet heroism of showing up, the sacredness of small moments, and the radical act of believing that ordina...
After 26.12.2025 42:06
April is the month of aftermath. Eli's mother dies, and the world doesn't stop. It just gets quieter. The funeral comes and goes but the grief lingers in the walls. Sarah stays close, trying to find the balance of being there for him and not suffocating him. There is a lot that goes on in this episode so you are not going to want to miss it
Hope Is A Fragile Architecture 17.11.2025 20:18
February begins with relief. Eli isn't leaving. But just as sarh starts to believe in peace again, a new crisis strikes. Eli's mother falls ill with covid. Love is tested by distance, fear, and the unbearable weight of not knowing.
Sarah's Story; Frost Doesn't Cancel Fire 05.11.2025 22:45
Despite the cold and holiday chaos, Sarah and Eli keep meeting. Makiong love, dreaming of a future, and finally letting others in. This episode explores intimacy under pressure and the quiet shift from secrecy to selfhood
Sarahs Story; The Reckless Grace Of Falling 24.10.2025 16:59
Sarah and Eli start sneaking out at night-parks, bleachers, back of his truck. In the hush of midnight, she begins to fall for him. This episode captures the thrill of rebellion, the intimacy of stolen moments, and the quiet defiance of choosing joy in a year that has tried to erase her.
Writing Inside The Parentheses 19.10.2025 20:02
Sarah begins her senior year not in a classroom but behind the screen. As the school shutdown erases rituals and milestones, she grieves the year that she never got to hold. With Eli's presence, she starts to reframe what this time could mean. Building moments, sketching through the silence, and choosing to show up anyway. This episode explores the quiet resilience of rewriting a stolen year.
The Return Of Warmth 15.10.2025 28:26
This episode contains May and June entries as well as some actual audio clips of Sarah. Eli makes a comeback and there is an optimism in the air by the end of this episode.
Still Writing In The Silence 08.10.2025 23:24
In April Sarah's world grows quieter. Her connection with Eli flickers as quarantine stretches on. The silence begins to feel familiar again. The entries show an emotional drift of isolation. And for the first time, you get to hear sarah's voice.
Sarah's Story; The Month The World Went Quiet 05.10.2025 17:57
The month the world began to shut down. Schools closed. Hallways emptied. The noise of everyday life faded into static. But for Sarah, who had already been living in emotional isolation, the silence wasn’t new—it was familiar. This episode traces the quiet pivot in Sarah’s journal. Just as the world begins to close, something opens inside her. A boy named Eli enters her life—not with grand gesture...
Sarah's Story; The Month That Didn't Melt 01.10.2025 17:57
Going through the entries in her journal throughout the month of February. What she says and what she is saying and the contrast between the two.
Sarah's journal; New Year New Me? 28.09.2025 25:10
While Sarah still feels like she isn't seen, maybe the new year will bring new opportunities for her? Or will it just bring more of the same heartbreak and disappointment?
Season 3 Sarah's Journal 26.09.2025 21:52
Welcome to season 3. We start at the begining of sarah's story. When she was 16. She has a lot to say and an articulate way of saying it. Youre not going to want to miss her story. This is the first of several episodes that will be devoted to telling Sarah's tragic story.
Motor City Madness . Sarah's Story 07.08.2025 44:22
Childhood trauma that went unchecked and early adulthood trauma that tortured her, she found herself wanting it all to just end. But then the Kindness of a stranger, a counselor, and the support of community and group programs, Sarah found a reason to live again. This is an inspiring story that tugs at the heart strings. You don't want to miss it.
Marryanne's Story: Perfect Life Invaded By Conspiracy Theory 29.07.2025 53:50
Marryanne had the life that most poeople dream about having. She works a job she loves. Has three healthy children and a husband who is supportive, patient and happy all of the time. Not to mention he makes a great living. But when the pandemic happens, and the shutdown looms, a new element is introduced to their dynamic. The once patient man was now being radicalized by the Qanon conspiracy theor...
Troubles Down In Texas 23.07.2025 52:44
Today we talked to Jason. Jason's story is a rollercoaster. Early in childhood he had to endure a broken home and poverty. In the latter part of his childhood though, things started looking up for him. His mom married a wonderful man who was loving and great provider. Things seemingly were going all in his favor. Early adulthood also seemed to go his way as well. Graduating college and getting...
The Suburban Nightmare. Lily's Story 03.07.2025 49:03
Everything seems to be going just as planned. Your life is working out just the way you had always dreamed. Then, all of a sudden, your whole world is turned upside down. This is the story of surviving domestic abuse. Mental and physical.
Rachel's Story 30.05.2025 43:29
My interview with Rachel. This is a story of resilience. The proof that the kindness of a stranger is powerful and the human spirit cannot be completely broken.
Samantha's Story 21.05.2025 47:49
This is the first of many episodes I am calling "Keeping The Conversation Going." With Will's story coming to an end, I decided to talk to listeners who have had their own struggles. People who have been down and were able to climb up out of it and make a good life for themselves. My hope is, that it inspires those who are suffering from depression to carry on. Samantha's story i...
Lets Keep The Conversation Going 10.05.2025 19:25
A moment of reflection on the conclusion of this whole thing. Also reaching out to those of you who have battled this beast and won. I want to hear your stories. Tell your stories. Or provide trhe platform for you to tell your stories. I love you all.
The Letter 07.05.2025 46:15
This episode is dedicated to the reading of the suicide note left behind by Will. It is 18 pages long so the episode is longer than usual. It is emotional and i had a tough time getting through it at times so I apologize for that. But in order to capture the emotion of the whole thing I didn't edit any of it out.
This Is Why I'm Going To Do It 27.03.2025 40:23
This is an episode where Will finally starts to give us the reasons behind his decisions. There are no surprises here but to see him write them down makes it more real. There is a 13 page entry and another entry that is almost 10 pages. That being said this episode runs a little longer than the usual but there is a ton of information and 2 long journal entries in it exploring the main reasons why...
Would Anyone Even Notice If I Were Gone? 22.03.2025 24:50
Nearing the end of the journal, the entries continue to get more and more dark. The questions of self worth and the questions of whether or not he would even be missed are occuring more frequently. Hopelessness is settling in and making itself home in Wills mind. He is slowly losing control
A Time For Reflection 19.03.2025 20:55
Will is slipping faster into a feeling of hopelessness. He is mentioning not going to "be here" much longer with a higher frequency now. In this episode I do some self reflecting. What should have I done or said differently. What other possible outcomes could have come from handling things differently.
An Expected Outcome Still Hurts 05.03.2025 20:19
Will has to come to the realization that Becca will never change. This sets him into a depression and sense of hopelessness that he is struggling to bounce back from
When Is Enough Ever Gonna Be Enough 05.02.2025 25:14
History repeating itself is taking its toll on Will. A covert operation reveals some hisden truths about her behavior. Some truths that are heartbreaking for Will
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