E69 - A Beacon of Hope in the Storm of Mental Illness: An Update on Suicide Awareness and Prevention with Dr. Christine Moutier

With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, mental health concerns are on the rise. What do we know about the relationship between suicide risk and previous pandemics or natural disasters? How do we distinguish between behavior that seems like appropriate coping during this time and behavior that should raise a red flag? What are some protective factors against suicide, and how can we capitalize on these, especially during this challenging time?  Join us, as we interview the Chief Medical Officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), Dr. Christine Moutier. Dr. Moutier knows the impact of suicide firsthand. After losing colleagues to suicide, she dedicated herself to fighting this leading cause of death. Throughout her career she has focused on fighting stigma related to mental health and help seeking. Training healthcare leaders, physicians, and advocacy groups, Dr. Moutier has sought to change the healthcare system’s approach to mental health, in order to optimize care for those suffering from mental health conditions. As a leader in the field of suicide prevention, Dr. Moutier joined AFSP in 2013, and has revitalized AFSP’s Education team, re-launched its Loss & Healing department, and expanded AFSP’s support to include those with lived experience of suicide. Moutier has authored articles and book chapters for publications such as the Journal of the American Medical Association, Academic Medicine, the American Journal of Psychiatry, the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, Psychiatric Times, Depression and Anxiety, and Academic Psychiatry. She has testified before the U.S. Congress and spoken at the White House, she was the host of AFSP’s documentary on surviving suicide loss, The Journey, and has appeared as an expert in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time magazine, The Economist, The Atlantic, the BBC, NBC, CNN, and other print and television outlets. You can follow Dr. Moutier on Twitter at @cmoutierMD. For more information on the AFSP please visit: afsp.org