Promoting Hope, Preventing Suicide

Suicide

Can Pedro Pascal Help Us Prevent Suicide?

Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on September 2, 2025

Personal Perspective: Pedro Pascal, a comfort object for the general public, shares a personal story with the potential to raise awareness for suicide prevention.

Personal Perspective: Pedro Pascal, a comfort object for the general public, shares a personal story with the potential to raise awareness for suicide prevention.

Trauma

Trauma's Enduring Hold on the Brain

Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on September 5, 2024

Personal Perspective: Trauma, no matter if it's "big T" or "little t," leaves its imprint on the life and brain of the sufferer.

Personal Perspective: Trauma, no matter if it's "big T" or "little t," leaves its imprint on the life and brain of the sufferer.

Emotions

Is Feeling Our Feelings a Luxury?

Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on August 21, 2024

The emotional zeitgeist of 2024 is “feel your feelings.” We are encouraged to have “all the feels” and to share them, openly, honestly, authentically, all the time.

The emotional zeitgeist of 2024 is “feel your feelings.” We are encouraged to have “all the feels” and to share them, openly, honestly, authentically, all the time.

Social Media

Elmo's Mental Health Check-In

Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on February 2, 2024

Personal Perspective: Elmo's check-in engaged fans in sharing about their mental health.

Personal Perspective: Elmo's check-in engaged fans in sharing about their mental health.

Grief

Creating a Space to Grieve

Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on August 24, 2023

Personal Perspective: Grief catches us by surprise, can stay with us more than we'd like, and can be something we move through. How do we create space for it?

Personal Perspective: Grief catches us by surprise, can stay with us more than we'd like, and can be something we move through. How do we create space for it?

Suicide

Sometimes I Just Feel Empty: Suicidal Thinking and Risk

Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on August 3, 2023

Suicidal ideation among teens is more common than we may want to believe. How do therapists support teens, and their parents, when suicidal ideation is expressed?

Suicidal ideation among teens is more common than we may want to believe. How do therapists support teens, and their parents, when suicidal ideation is expressed?

Therapy

We Keep Going to Therapy, Even if We Don't Know How It Helps

Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on July 26, 2023

We keep going to therapy, even bragging about going. But what evidence do we have about why, or how, therapy works?

We keep going to therapy, even bragging about going. But what evidence do we have about why, or how, therapy works?

Relationships

Can 8 Minutes Make Your Life a Little Better?

Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on March 15, 2023

It can be hard to find time to connect with the people most important to us. Could 8-minute calls make a difference?

It can be hard to find time to connect with the people most important to us. Could 8-minute calls make a difference?

Anxiety

Surviving Hard Things, Two Weeks at a Time

Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on November 22, 2022

When our minds are caught up in thought, getting through the days between the present and whatever we are anticipating can be hard.

When our minds are caught up in thought, getting through the days between the present and whatever we are anticipating can be hard.

Trauma

Texting in the Time of Overwhelm

Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on September 30, 2022

A Personal Perspective: Texting has become a way to connect with multiple people when we don't have enough time. But what are some of the pitfalls?

A Personal Perspective: Texting has become a way to connect with multiple people when we don't have enough time. But what are some of the pitfalls?

Health

Psychedelics as Mental Health Treatment

Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on September 19, 2022

Can a magic mushroom change your mind—for the better?

Can a magic mushroom change your mind—for the better?

Child Development

The Long Tail of Adverse Childhood Experiences

Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on August 29, 2022

Personal Perspective: Childhood trauma lives on in our bodies and minds, but recovery is possible.

Personal Perspective: Childhood trauma lives on in our bodies and minds, but recovery is possible.

Suicide

Is There Anything to Say to a Suicide Attempt Survivor?

Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on May 12, 2022

How to offer support to someone who survives a suicide attempt, without saying a thing.

How to offer support to someone who survives a suicide attempt, without saying a thing.

Anxiety

4 Ways to Handle Uncertainty on the Cusp of 2022

Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on December 28, 2021

We may not be looking forward to a new year — or we are looking forward with trepidation. Can we enter the new year with resilience?

We may not be looking forward to a new year — or we are looking forward with trepidation. Can we enter the new year with resilience?

Health

Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles, and Me

Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on August 3, 2021

How truly remarkable to say “no” one week and come back the next and say “yes, but in the way I can.”

How truly remarkable to say “no” one week and come back the next and say “yes, but in the way I can.”

Depression

The Dominant Emotion of 2021

Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on April 23, 2021

Since we’ve made it this far, how can we make the next months of 2021 marginally better, at least on an individual level?

Since we’ve made it this far, how can we make the next months of 2021 marginally better, at least on an individual level?

Depression

Foot Rub for the Soul; Fire Escape for the Weight of Living

Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on March 25, 2021

When those we love may not feel seen, heard, or witnessed, how can we offer a foot rub for the soul, a fire escape for the weight of living?

When those we love may not feel seen, heard, or witnessed, how can we offer a foot rub for the soul, a fire escape for the weight of living?

Stress

Retail Therapy

Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on January 21, 2021

What’s to make of our purchases? Are our shopping habits a form of retail therapy? Are we trying to make ourselves feel better by shopping? Is that a good idea?

What’s to make of our purchases? Are our shopping habits a form of retail therapy? Are we trying to make ourselves feel better by shopping? Is that a good idea?

Suicide

Talking With Kids About Death in 2020

Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on November 24, 2020

Avoiding talk about death doesn't mean that kids don't know about death. Talking about it helps kids understand that death is a part of life.

Avoiding talk about death doesn't mean that kids don't know about death. Talking about it helps kids understand that death is a part of life.

Health

Getting Help, Online, During Sober October

Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on October 12, 2020

Can an online substance use program help you?

Can an online substance use program help you?