This episode includes discussions about suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please consider reaching out for help. In the U.S., you can dial or text 988 or chat via988lifeline.org. For international resources, visit findahelpline.com.

How many threads connect us to understanding suicide? On this week’s episode of TheArtful Periscope, Larry welcomes journalist Rachel Zimmerman onto the show to discuss her memoir Us After: A Memoir of Love and Suicide. The book recounts her personal journey of grief and healing after her husband Seth, an MIT robotics professor and father of two, tragically died by suicide in 2014. Together, Larry and Rachel discuss societal prejudices about suicide and mental health, dealing with the feelings of guilt and anger int he aftermath, and the importance of coming together with family and friends in moving forward.

After the break, Larry also welcomes Ann Morrison Pacella, the executive director of the Long Island Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).AFSP is a national nonprofit focusing on suicide research, education, advocacy, and survivor outreach. Larry and Ann discuss the prevalence of suicide among middle-aged men, the importance of treating mental health as seriously as physical health and the annual Out of the Darkness Walk at Jones Beach.