Content Warning: This podcast discusses suicide, suicidal thoughts, and suicide bereavement. Some content may be distressing. Please listen in a way that feels safe for you and seek support if needed.

Description: Drawing from clinical, policing, and military perspectives, this episode highlights how families are often expected to prevent suicide without adequate tools, guidance, or support. Panellists discuss stigma, career concerns, privacy barriers, and key transition points that can destabilizing. The episode challenges the idea that families are “first responders to first responders”. At its core, this episode argues that families are not backup supports, they are partners who deserve care, recognition, and direct support.

Moderated by:

Suzanne Bailey: Long-time social worker with Canada’s Department of National Defence and contributor to the Road to Mental Readiness program

Dr. Heidi Cramm: Occupational therapist, Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Therapy and research lead at the Families Matter Research Group, Queen’s University

Guest Panellists:

Dr. Walter Busuttil: Consultant psychiatrist and Visiting Professor at the King’s Centre for Military Health Research

Dr. Laura Frey: Associate Professor in couple and Family therapy at the University of Louisville in Kentucky

Sarah McEwen: Wellness Resource Liaison, Ottawa Police Service

Relevant Resources:

· Coroner Report: Staying Visible, Staying Connected, for Life: Report of the Expert Panel on Police Officer Deaths by Suicide

· PSP mental health stigma (Canada): “Playing the system”: Structural factors potentiating mental health stigma, challenging awareness, and creating barriers to care for Canadian public safety personnel

· Family Science in suicide: Where Is Family Science in Suicide Prevention and Intervention? Theoretical Applications for a Systemic Perspective

· Padres (Chaplains- Canada): National Defence. The Royal Canadian Chaplain Service

· Families as risk or protective factors: A scoping review of military and Veteran families within international suicidality and suicide prevention research

· Risk and protective factors (Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand): Risk and protective factors for self-harm and suicide behaviours among serving and ex-serving personnel of the UK Armed Forces, Canadian Armed Forces, Australian Defence Force and New Zealand Defence Force: A systematic review

· Peer support for families (military-US): Surviving families of military suicide loss: Exploring postvention peer support

· ASIST Training: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)