Pamella and Samantha talk about things you can do to help spread the word that September is Suicide Prevention Month, how to focus on being kind to others and how to especially be kind to yourself.  Articles Referenced: <a href= "https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/how-do-life/201807/making-others-feel-good-about-themselves"> Making Others Feel Good About Themselves </a> <a href= "http://breaking-taboo.org/general-posts/my-friend-is-suicidal-now-what/"> My Friend Is Suicidal, Now What?</a>

How To Help Promote Suicide Prevention Month, Week and Day

Pamella Jean and Samantha Bennington interview World Champion Surfer, Keala Kennelly. Keala shares candidly the times she thought of taking her life, how she has successfully dealt with her depression and what she's learned about being bipolar.

World Champion Surfer, Keala Kennelly shares her struggles with depression and bipolar disorder.

Interview With World Champion Surfer Keala Kennelly

On Steven Frain Sister's 13th podcast, Pamella Jean and Samantha Bennington discuss whether or not they think suicide is a selfish. They also share an eye opening article entitled "Suicide Is Not Selfish", which provides information on something called a suicide trance.  Articles:  <a href= "https://www.soslsd.org/resource/suicide-is-not-selfish/#.XUdelpNKjOQ"> Suicide Is Not Selfish</a> <a href= "https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/free-range-psychology/201806/is-suicide-selfish"> Is Suicide Selfish?</a> <a href= "https://www.huffpost.com/entry/theres-nothing-selfish-about-suicide_b_5672519"> There's Nothing Selfish About Suicide</a>

Pamella and Samantha discuss whether or not they feel suicide is a selfish act.

Is Suicide Selfish?

On Steven Frain Sister's 12th podcast, Pamella Jean and Samantha Bennington discuss the importance of self-value and how it differs from confidence and self-esteem, which have a tendency toward self entitlement. Pamella also does a quiz on Samantha"Do You Value Yourself" by Rick Hanson. Quiz: <a title="Do You Value Yourself" href= "https://www.rickhanson.net/quiz-do-you-value-yourself/">Do You Value Yourself </a> Article: <a title= "How Much Do You Value Yourself?" href= "https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/anger-in-the-age-entitlement/201406/how-much-do-you-value-yourself"> How Much Do You Value Yourself?</a>

Pamella and Samantha discuss and take a quiz on the importance of valuing yourself

How Much Do You Value Yourself?

In Steven Frain's Sisters 11th podcast, Pamella Jean interviews Joyce Bruggeman, the Executive Director of Survivors of Suicide Loss (<a href= "https://www.soslsd.org/support-groups/">SOSLSD.org</a>). Joyce discusses why support groups, such as the ones that SOSLSD have been facilitating since 1981, are so essential to help survivors with their grief and how they ultimately prevent future suicides. She also openly shares the tragedy that triggered her husband to take his own life. Book Reference: <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Supporting-Children-After-Suicide-Loss/dp/1508412995">Supporting Children After Suicide Loss</a>

The importance and impact of survivors of suicide support groups

Why Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Groups Will Help You

Pamella and Samantha Discuss how they feel about the advice Lindsay G Holmes provides in her Huffington Post article <a href= "https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-to-talk-about-suicide_n_5b1a73f3e4b09d7a3d7155de"> "How To Talk About Suicide In A Way That's Actually Helpful"</a>

Pamella and Samantha Discuss Lindsay G Holmes Article About Suicide

"How To Talk About Suicide In A Way That's Actually Helpful"

Pamella Jean and Samantha Bennington interview Anne Moss Rogers, who after losing her son Charles to suicide, started a blog EmotinallyNaked.com and was featured on TED Talks "Can a Blog Save Lives". Anne Moss offers her expert coping strategies, things to listen for to determine if someone is about to die by suicide and her thoughts on the TV Show "13 Reasons Why." She also bravely shares where to read her sons's final tweets, in hopes it will prevent others from missing the signs of when someone they love is about to take their own life. Books Anne Moss Recommends: Coping Strategies For Grief and Loss Children Teens & Suicide Loss <a href= "https://annemoss.com/2017/02/01/those-final-tweets/">Her Son's Final Tweets</a>

Anne Moss shares her son's final tweets and her TED talk about suicide.

Anne Moss Rogers Interview

In Steven Frain Sister's 8th episode, Pamella and Samantha our joined by their producer Zachary (Weintraub). They discuss triggers that bring up the painful reminders of the loss of their loved ones to suicide and share the coping tools they use to ease their grief. Samantha also shares how she dealt with Sunny Garcia's attempted suicide, as one of her closest friends KK, received the news while she's was a guest at Samantha's home.

Coping tools for those dealing with suicide loss

Suicide Survivor Triggers

In Steven Frain Sister's 7th episode, Pamella Jean and Samantha Bennington share some alarming stats about the significant increase of teenage suicides, as well as research regarding what may be contributing to teenagers high level of anxiety and depression. They also discuss their views on taking anti-depressants and recommend a few books that may help to improve the well being of those dealing with mental health issues.  RESOURCES: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Factors contributing to a high level of stress in teenagers

Teenage Anxiety Contributors

Pamella Jean and Samantha Bennington continue to interview Tobi Knehr Bennington, Chester Bennington's sister and Samantha's sister-in-law, on the day of Chester's 43rd Birthday (March 20th) and the morning after (March 21st) his celebration of life in Tempe, Arizona.

Chester Bennington's sister Tobi continues to share her struggles with her brother's passing and how she copes.

Part 2: Interview with Tobi Knehr Bennington

Pamella Jean and Samantha Bennington interview Tobi Knehr Bennington, Chester Bennington's sister and Samantha's sister-in-law. Tobi is not only a survivor of suicide loss, she courageously shares her own attempts. We hope by sharing her heartbreaking story it helps others who suffer with similar struggles. This special episode was recorded live on March 20th from Tempe, Arizona in honor of Chester's 43rd Birthday.

Chester Bennington's sister and Samantha's sister-in-law. Tobi is not only a survivor of suicide loss, she courageously shares her own attempts.

Interview with Tobi Knehr Bennington

In Steven Frain Sister's 4th episode, Pamella Jean asks Samantha Bennington questions regarding common myths surrounding suicide that reveal some surprising facts and statistics. Including: Do You Think Talking about Suicide Further Causes People to Act? RESOURCES: University of Notre Dame American Foundation for Suicide Prevention DoSomething Organization

Fact and Statistics about Suicide

Surprising Suicide Myths

In Steven Frain Sister's third episode, Samantha Bennington and Pamella Jean continue discussing suicide stigmas and how stigmas greatly influence not only suicide survivors, but also people who may feel too ashamed to reach out for help. <a href= "https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/court-upholds-conviction-michelle-carter-151415814.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conviction of Michelle Carter In Texting-Suicide Case</a> <a href= "https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2019/02/05/kristoff-st-john-dies-4-years-after-son-julian-st-johns-suicide/2772047002/"> Kristoff St. John's Death Calls Attention to Risks Facing Suicide Loss Survivors</a>

Discussing Stigmas Associated with Suicide Loss

Suicide Stigmas: Part Two

Steven Frain Sister's second episode deals with suicide stigmas and how stigmas greatly influence not only suicide survivors, but also people who may feel too ashamed to reach out for help.  References for this podcast include: <a href= "https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/court-upholds-conviction-michelle-carter-151415814.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conviction of Michelle Carter In Texting-Suicide Case</a> <a href= "https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2019/02/05/kristoff-st-john-dies-4-years-after-son-julian-st-johns-suicide/2772047002/"> Kristoff St. John's Death Calls Attention to Risks Facing Suicide Loss Survivors</a> <h1 class="asset-headline speakable-headline"> </h1>

Suicide Stigmas: Part One

In this premiere episode, life-long friends Pamella Jean and Samantha Bennington, discuss how suicide has impacted each of their lives and why they teamed up to create the Steven Frain Sister podcast.

Discussing The Impact of Suicide Loss

Why Steven Frain Sister?

Pamella Jean and Samantha Bennington

Samantha Bennington and Pamella Jean developed a life-long friendship after meeting in the late 1990's. They always knew their special friendship would stand the test of time, but they never anticipated sharing a tragic bond of each losing a family member they deeply loved to suicide. Their podcast (named after Pamella's brother Steven who took his life) aims to provide coping tools for people experiencing helplessness who are dealing with suicide loss, fears a loved one is contemplating taking their own life or a person with suicidal thoughts that may feel too paralyzed to reach out for help.

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