How to Spot the Signs: Suicide Awareness & Support with Dr. Janine Ellenberger

Lisa and Gretchen sit down with Dr. Janine Ellenberger—physician, mental health tech innovator, and autism mom—for a deeply personal and powerful conversation about suicide prevention, parenting through mental illness, and the life-changing impact of accessible therapy. Together, they unpack the hard stuff—grief, trauma, and hope—and explore how digital tools like Calmerry are reshaping mental wellness support.


🎥 Watch the Video Podcast on YouTube:
A video version of this episode is available here:
YouTube: @TheSurvivorsPodcastChannel 


🎙️ Episode Sponsored by Calmerry
This episode is proudly brought to you by Calmerry, an online therapy platform providing affordable and accessible professional counseling.
🌐 Visit: https://calmerry.com/the-survivors-podcast/ 
🎟️ Use code SURVIVORS20 for 20% off your first month
💙 Because your mental well-being matters. 💙


🎧 Episode Summary
In this raw and resonant episode, Dr. Janine Ellenberger opens up about her personal experiences as a parent of a child with autism and her professional mission to make mental health support more accessible. Lisa, also a suicide loss survivor, and Gretchen, a suicide attempt survivor, guide the conversation toward actionable insights on recognizing the signs of crisis, advocating for mental health in the workplace, and how technology like Calmerry helps meet people where they are—emotionally and digitally.


💡 Lessons Learned

• Asking deeper, open-ended questions can be the first step toward saving someone in crisis.
• Access to therapy—especially in real time—is critical and possible through platforms like Calmerry.
• Matching with the right therapist can take time, but the right fit is transformative.
• Mental health care is never one-size-fits-all—there are multiple modalities and pathways to healing.

⏱️ Episode Chapters
00:00 – Trigger Warning & Introduction
02:30 – Meet Dr. Janine Ellenberger
05:10 – Parenting a Child with Autism & Suicide Risk
12:00 – Why Access to Timely Therapy Matters
18:45 – Calmerry’s Mission & Digital Mental Health Tools
24:00 – Therapy Options: Tapping, Journaling & Matching
30:00 – Breaking Generational Stigma Around Mental Health
35:50 – Supporting Colleagues & Friends in Crisis
40:15 – Workplace Mental Health & EAPs Explained
46:00 – Final Thoughts & Next Week’s Teaser

📚 Resources for Mental Health & Support
🔹 The Survivors Podcast Website – https://thesurvivors.net/
🔹 The HelpHUB™ – Mental health resources, tools, and support networks – https://www.thehelphub.co/
🔹 Schoser Talent and Wellness Solutions – Mental wellness coaching & support – https://schosersolutions.com/
🔹 Calmerry – Affordable & accessible online therapy – https://calmerry.com/
🔹 Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads – A raw, award-winning mental health podcast – https://goesoninourheads.net/


📲 Follow & Connect With Us
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_survivors_podcast
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-survivors-podcast
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSurvivorsPodcastChannel 

#TheSurvivorsPodcast #EndTheStigma #MentalHealthMatters #SuicidePrevention #YouAreNotAlone #BreakTheSilence #GriefSupport #988Lifeline #SurvivorStories #HealingTogether #PodMatch #MentalHealth #SuicideAwareness #Podcast #Community #Hope #Grief #Stigma #MentalIllness #Support #LisaSugarman #GretchenSchoser #JanineEllenberger


🎙️ See You Next Week! Stay strong, keep going, and remember: You are enough. 💜