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This special edition of The Local Show will offer the four‐part series on suicide in its entirety.

With reports and interviews, Episode One illustrates the Kansas City connection to the issue of lives of unbearable pain.

Episode Two deals with depression, which is what Kansas City psychologist Dr. Linda Moore states is the initial symptom experienced by so many, and how to recognize symptoms of depression early.

What to do when someone you know is considering suicide is thoroughly discussed in Episode Three.

Learning to cope after the suicide of a friend or family member leaves one asking, “What could I have done?” Episode Four discusses the devastating loss of those left behind and how individuals and support groups can be beneficial.   

Overwhelming positive feedback from the initial showing of the series has resulted in this special edition which will be rebroadcast additional times and will soon be available online.

Here is a look at just a few of the comments we have received:

“My name is Martha Stevens; I live in Manhattan,Kansas. On March 18th, 2007, I lost my beloved 12-year-old son, Ian, to hanging. I am a moderator to the online support group, Parents of Suicides. I have just watched part 4 of your series on suicide and I need to tell you that I am flabbergasted by its excellence. Well done, well done, WELL DONE-and I thank you, both for myself, and the huge population of the grieving. Well done.”

“I recently had the opportunity to view the first of a 4 part series you are doing on suicide. I want to thank you for being so brave, so compassionate and for educating people about suicide which is epidemic. The news reporter who spoke of his coworker who had died by suicide was so honest and moving. He did not hide or sugar coat anything.

I am very grateful to you for taking on this subject and I hope other PBS stations pick it up and air it as well.”

“Someone sent me a link to the recent show you ran on suicide. The 10 minute report apparently was the first of 4 shows in a series to be aired. I thought the show was excellent, very well done. I appreciated the honesty of the reporter who talked about his co-worker Don and how his suicide affected him, and the fact that the show addressed the stigma that goes with getting help-and the flawed terminology of ‘committing suicide.” Please let the people who were on this show know that this segment was seen-not just by people in Kansas, but by people all over the world, because the show was so well done. I facilitate the world’s largest English speaking Internet community for people who have lost someone to suicide, and international community of around 1000 people. I passed the link on to everyone, expecting that some of them will take time to watch it, too. I live in Tennessee, but the link was shared with me by Martha Stevens, who lives in Manhattan, Kansas. (Her 12 year old son Ian took his life a few years ago.) Thanks so much.
Karyl”

If you’d like to share your own experiences or information on resources, please comment below or send us an email at thelocalshow@kcpt.org.

Suicide Prevention and Support Resources:

American Association of Suicidology

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Directory of Mental Health Resources in Kansas

First Call

Mental Health America of the Heartland

Headquarters Counseling Center

Bert Nash Center

National Alliance on Mental Illness Kansas City

Research Psychiatric Center

Suicide Awareness Survivor Support Mo-Kan

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Veteran’s Suicide Hotline

Your Life Your Voice

CommCare

Missouri Department of Mental Health

Missouri Suicide Prevention Project

Parents of Suicide Support Group

Suicide Grief Support Forum

Parents of Suicide Support Community

Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Compassionate Ear

Here is a look back at the individual segments: