Raw, Real, and Research-Informed Podcasts Tackle the Science and Hard Conversations Around Suicide and Mental Health

NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Conversations around suicide and mental health are often brushed off in our culture, leaving many with feelings of isolation and helplessness and fears around being judged. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) addresses this head-on, launching a new season of its podcast channel where mental health experts and those with their own personal experiences related to mental health and suicide have honest, authentic, and open conversations, sharing insights from real people and communities, as well as the field's latest scientific developments and research.

Officially launched in December 2025, the AFSP Podcast Channel is entering its second season. In new episodes of Ask Dr. Jill, Strong Talk, and Elevating Voices, listeners can expect to learn about the latest research in the field, hear from changemakers who are reshaping mental healthcare, and have their real mental health and suicide-related questions answered by researchers, advocates, and licensed mental health professionals.

Season two's kickoff episodes in October:

• Ask Dr. Jill, "What Can We Do to Prevent Physician Suicide?": Host Dr. Jill Harkavy-Friedman and Corey Feist, co-founder & CEO of the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation, discuss the problem of physician suicide: the causes, the impact, and what we can do to prevent it
• Strong Talk, next episode airing Oct. 21: Host Vic Armstrong has a candid conversation with Gemma Correll, bestselling author and graphic novelist (Anxietyland), known for integrating humor into their story of living with and navigating anxiety and depression

What's in store this season:

• Dr. Lynnette A. Averill, a researcher specializing in psychedelics and their potential applications in mental health, on what research says about mental health and the use of psychedelics
• Megan McCoy, CFT™, LMFT, and PhD, on the connection between personal finances and mental health – and how people can manage their emotions related to financial stress
• Faye Seidler, LGBTQ+ suicide prevention advocate, on trans and LGBTQ+ suicide prevention and access to care in local communities
• Vikram Patel, co-director of Harvard's Mental Health for All Lab, on what must be done to provide mental healthcare support care in low-resource settings
• Dr. Ellie Foster, the co-director of Education for the Kevin Love Fund, on the role public figures and athletes play in empowering youth to explore vulnerability and have honest mental health conversations
• Cultural considerations of mental health and suicide prevention in diverse communities

"We will be having conversations that combine real world experiences and research findings and offer our audience actionable content," said Dr. Jill Harkavy-Friedman, the host of Ask Dr. Jill and AFSP senior vice president of Research. "The new season invites listeners to meet and learn from interesting people who are changing the way we access mental health resources, making them more accessible to all," said Vic Armstrong, the host of Strong Talk and Elevating Voices and AFSP VP for Health Equity and Engagement.

The AFSP Podcast Channel houses the following shows:

Strong Talk is hosted by Vic Armstrong, AFSP's vice president for Health Equity and Engagement. Each episode features conversations with experts, advocates, and changemakers about how they're reshaping mental healthcare to make it accessible to all. The show covers topical issues that affect the mental health of various communities.

Elevating Voices is a roundtable discussion series where we bring together leaders from diverse communities to understand the unique mental health experiences they face and explore the ways we can all help to support and amplify progress.

Ask Dr. Jill features Dr. Jill Harkavy-Friedman, AFSP's senior vice president of Research, answering urgent and real mental health questions with the latest scientific research and conversations with fellow experts in the field.

Visit afsp.org/podcasts to learn more.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, including those who have experienced a loss. AFSP creates a culture that's smart about mental health through public education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, with its Policy and Advocacy Office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico, with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and TikTok.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and The Jed Foundation (JED) intend to merge as equals to form AFSP/JED, the nation's largest nonprofit dedicated to preventing suicide across the lifespan, and bringing hope to those affected by suicide loss or risk. The AFSP/JED mission would reflect a commitment to bring together AFSP's research, advocacy, chapter network, and loss-support expertise with JED's comprehensive approach to suicide prevention and evidence-informed youth mental health programs, creating greater scale, reach, and impact at a time of urgent national need. Read more about our recent announcement. 

Media interested in speaking with AFSP on this news are encouraged to fill out this press request form and explore AFSP's Safe Storytelling Studio for ethical reporting guidance.

SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention