Emily Kwong

And today we are talking about how to help someone you love who is in a suicidal crisis with the NPR health correspondent who covers mental health, Ritu Chatterjee.

Hey, Ritu.

Hi, Emily.

Last time we talked about this, we focused on how to help those who are at risk.

You offered a lot of practical advice, how to develop a safety plan, how to identify the warning signs.

It was a really rich, thorough conversation we had.

That's right.

Today on the show, how suicide survivors and caregivers are turning their experiences into art and reimagining what suicide prevention work sounds like.

You're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.

Okay, Ritu.

My mom is a suicide attempt survivor.

We're so fortunate she's with us now.

I love her so much.

And when I heard this piece, it made me wish I had a song like this in my life when I was going through this at 21, the experience of almost losing her because it was such an isolating time.

And I just didn't know what to say to my mom.

And I didn't know how to help.

Yeah, it requires a lot of focus, but you have to center the person in despair.

And it sounds like that philosophy was really carried over into how Joe approached this film project.

Can you say more about that?

What would you say are the most important lessons the song has to teach?