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

Ten years after losing her 24-year-old son Richard to suicide, Ann Marie Farino wants other suicide loss survivors to know something she once believed was impossible: grief and joy can exist together.

When the meals stopped arriving, friends returned to their routines, and the world moved forward, Ann Marie was left asking a question familiar to many grieving families:

"How do I live now?"

In this deeply moving conversation, she share...

What would you do if your best friend told you they were thinking about suicide—and begged you not to tell anyone?

For many teenagers, this isn't a hypothetical question.

In the final episode of our three-part Suicide Prevention Month series, suicide prevention expert Dr. Stacey Freedenthal explains why keeping suicidal thoughts secret can place an overwhelming burden on another young person—and why telling a trusted adul...

When a teenager tells a parent they're thinking about suicide, it's one of the most frightening conversations a family can face.

How do you respond without minimizing their pain—or overwhelming them with your own fear?

In Part 2 of our conversation with suicide prevention expert Dr. Stacey Freedenthal, we explore five more reasons many teens hesitate to tell their parents they're having suicidal thoughts, along with practical w...

One of the greatest fears many parents have is learning that their child was struggling—and never told them.

Why do so many teenagers share suicidal thoughts with friends but keep them from the adults who love them most?

In this important conversation, suicide prevention expert Dr. Stacey Freedenthal explores the reasons many teens stay silent and offers compassionate, practical guidance for parents who want to create safer, mo...

"How are you?"

Instead of giving the automatic answer—"Fine"—Nick paused.

Then he said something most of us rarely admit:

"Actually, I've been really struggling."

That honest response became the beginning of this conversation.

In this deeply personal episode, Nick shares how years of hiding his sexuality contributed to clinical depression, why coming out brought an unexpected sense of relief, and how learning to understand h...

When depression affects your concentration, confidence, or energy, staying productive can feel like a constant battle with yourself.

But working harder is not always the answer.

In the second half of this practical conversation, Terry and Bridget continue speaking with writer Sarah Fielding, author of the Healthline article, “Nine Ways to Motivate Yourself to Work When You’re Struggling Mentally.”

Sarah shares five a...

When depression steals your motivation, even the smallest task can feel impossible.

Getting out of bed. Answering an email. Folding laundry. Starting a work project.

From the outside, it may look like procrastination or laziness. From the inside, it can feel like trying to move through wet concrete.

In this practical episode, Terry and Bridget welcome writer Sarah Fielding, whose article on staying motivated while struggling with ment...

Hundreds of thousands of people know Shannon for making them laugh.

Her videos have gone viral. Her social media is full of humor, energy, and outrageous comedy.

What most people didn't see was that behind the camera, she was learning one of the hardest lessons of her life: she couldn't heal from depression alone.

In Part 2 of Shannon's story, she shares the biggest changes she's made since seeking treatment—and why asking for h...

Nearly a decade ago, Davey shared one of the darkest depression stories we've ever featured on Giving Voice to Depression. He was living with relentless depression, frequent suicidal thoughts, and believed he simply couldn't do life anymore.

Today, he comes back with a very different story.

After years of searching for answers, one conversation with a physician led to a diagnosis of Complex PTSD (CPTSD)—a discovery that complet...

Instagram creator ShannyPants has built a community of hundreds of thousands of followers by making people laugh.

But while millions of people saw the funny videos, very few knew she was quietly living with depression.

In this episode, Shannon shares what depression really looked like behind the scenes, why she finally sought treatment, how antidepressants and therapy changed her life, and why humor became one of the tools that helpe...

For years, Davey believed he had depression.

What he didn't know was why.

After nearly a decade of living with severe depression—including years of suicidal thoughts—a conversation with a physician changed everything. Within minutes of hearing Davey's childhood story, the doctor wrote two words on a piece of paper:

Complex PTSD (CPTSD).

That diagnosis became the beginning of a completely different healing journey.

In this fo...

What do you do when depression makes even getting out of bed feel impossible?

Davey knows that battle firsthand.

After years of pushing through exhaustion and believing something was physically wrong, he was eventually diagnosed with major depressive disorder. What followed wasn't a quick recovery—it was a daily commitment to learning everything he could about depression and building a toolbox of coping strategies.

In this deepl...

Why do so many people wait years before asking for help with depression?

For award-winning television journalist Ted Perry, the answer was simple: stigma.

In this candid conversation, Ted shares why he kept his depression hidden for years, how grief after his father's death intensified his symptoms, and why finally accepting therapy and antidepressant medication changed his life.

He also reflects on the relationships depression affect...

How do you help someone with depression when they believe they're a burden?

Pam knows that feeling all too well.

After years of suppressing depression, childhood trauma, and overwhelming life stress, she experienced a severe depressive episode that lasted more than three years. During that time, she was hospitalized four times, survived a suicide attempt, and struggled to believe she would ever experience joy again.

Today, Pam shares ...

What if there were a free, portable tool you could use almost anywhere to help reduce stress and emotional overwhelm?

In this episode, Terry and Bridget explore Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) — commonly known as tapping — with EFT expert Brad Yates.

Tapping combines gentle stimulation of acupressure points with focused attention on thoughts and emotions. Supporters of the technique describe it as a way to calm the body...

How do you explain depression to a child?

For Todd Rennebohm, that question became deeply personal.

After years of living with depression, anxiety, ADHD, alcoholism, suicidal thoughts, and multiple hospitalizations, Todd found himself facing one of the darkest nights of his life. What began as a desperate attempt to leave something behind for his children eventually became Sometimes Daddy Cries, a children's book designed to help fam...

What does it mean to live with suicidal thoughts — and not be actively suicidal?

In this powerful episode, Wally shares what it’s like to experience daily suicide ideation while actively managing their mental health.

With the increased visibility of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, conversations about suicide are more public than ever. But there’s often confusion:

Does having suicidal thoughts automatically mea...

Can you be depressed and not even realize it?

Psychologist, author, and TEDx speaker Dr. Margaret Rutherford joins us to explore a powerful and often overlooked topic: high-functioning and perfectly hidden depression.

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, we unpack why so many people deny their depression — even to themselves.

Dr. Margaret explains the difference between:

•  Classic depression (observable changes in moo...

Can you be depressed and not even realize it?

Psychologist, author, and TEDx speaker Dr. Margaret Rutherford joins us to explore a powerful and often overlooked topic: high-functioning and perfectly hidden depression.

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, we unpack why so many people deny their depression — even to themselves.

Dr. Margaret explains the difference between:

•  Classic depression (observable changes in moo...