Zero Suicide with Kirsten Sierra & Maria Needham Artwork

Let's Rethink This

Let’s Rethink This is taking real conversations about mental illness from behind closed doors right out into the open. Hosted by Abby Berger, episodes will explore the complex corners of mental illness by having candid conversations with people living with a severe mental illness and mental health providers on how mental illness affects all aspects of life including education, employment, housing, relationships and so much more. Let’s Rethink This is bringing you real stories of the challenges of mental illness along with real inspiration to manage the symptoms of mental illness, find belonging and purpose in your community, and gain the confidence to live a healthy, quality life.

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Let's Rethink This

Zero Suicide with Kirsten Sierra & Maria Needham

August 23, 2021 • Abby Berger

Date: August 23, 2021

Name of Show: Let’s Rethink This

Episode title and number: Zero Suicide with Kirsten Sierra and Maria Needham

Brief summary of show: We are going to be talking about Zero Suicide, which promotes safer care for those at risk of suicide. Zero Suicide believes that suicide is preventable and that the only acceptable number of losses due to errors in quality of care is zero. Today I am speaking with Kirsten Sierra, who has both her MSW and LCSW and works at Mercy as their first ever Zero Suicide Coordinator and Maria Needham who has her Bachelors of Social Work and works at Independence Center as a Community Support Specialists.

Bullet points of key topics & timestamps:

1:31 – 5:31 Kirsten and Maria’s Backgrounds

5:59 – 6:45 Suicide Stats

7:02 – 12:33 Suicidal Ideation

14:13 - 17:42 How to Support Somone with Suicidal Ideation

20:34 - 23:38 Mission of Zero Suicide

24:02 – 25:58 Mercy Health System’s Approach to Zero Suicide

30:07 – 33:46 Steps We Can Take to Prevent Suicide

List of resources mentioned in episode, suggested reading, social media handles:

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Zero Suicide

NAMI

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text “START” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741.

Calls to action:

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