The Leftover Pieces; Suicide Loss Conversations
This podcast focuses on surviving life after a suicide loss, an experience that can be devastating and leave you feeling lost as you try to pick up the pieces of your shattered heart. The host, Melissa Bottorff-Arey, lost her 21-year-old son, Alex, to suicide on August 7, 2016, and brings (& often shares) her insights from her personal journey.
In each episode, Melissa engages in honest and challenging conversations with other survivors of loss, healers, and mental health experts. She also produces shorter solo episodes where she reflects on her own thoughts and experiences thus far. The podcast covers a wide range of relevant topics and addresses difficult questions. Melissa explores all aspects of grief, including trauma, hope, healing, self-care, legacy, and stigma. She believes that we learn to live alongside our grief rather than get ing over it. Actual change comes through authentic, meaningful connections and mindful choices.
For supporters or educators, these conversations provide valuable insights and shine a light on suicide and grief genuinely and unapologetically. Listeners who are grieving a suicide loss can find comfort in the community and hope for a better tomorrow. Melissa aims to help others, like herself, transition from merely surviving to discovering a life filled with meaning and, potentially, even happiness amid the leftover pieces around you.
[Please NOTE: This podcast is for only relational, informational, and entertainment purposes. It candidly and openly discusses sensitive and sometimes activating topics. There will be no in-depth or graphic descriptions of the method, but merely the possible mention of suicide, murder, rape, and the like. Be guided and care for yourself accordingly. Also, Melissa is not a doctor or licensed therapist, and nothing on this podcast should be taken in place of, or as, medical/mental health advice or recommendations.]
The Leftover Pieces; Suicide Loss Conversations
Movies, Series & Documentaries; About Suicide Loss & Grief
We regularly find suicide as a subject matter on TV and in film these days...or at least more than we did once. I am going to dive down the rabbit hole to talk about my suggestions and cautions - and a few hard "no's".
When you watch movies with a theme toward suicide or death, does the content activate you or help you? Since the reasons these films, or shows, are made can be so diverse - to educate, to cause fear or shock or disgust, or even to provoke or bring about change and awareness - so are our reasons for choosing, or not choosing, to watch them.
Today, I explore and discuss just some of the current choices out there. Be sure to also check out the two episodes from past seasons and here's the link to the Hallie Twomey episode that I mention as well
- Season 1 Ep 17 -What Am I Watching (aka binging)
- Season 2 Ep 17 - To Watch or Not to Watch
- S4 Ep 5- Scattering CJ - Hallie Twomey & I talk
I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHICH ONES YOU HAVE SEEN AND YOUR TAKE - from ANY of the episodes! Or others you would recommend to watch - or not to watch! I will also disclaim this episode as I do all others - take that which serves you and leave the rest. We are all on a very individual journey, and at different spaces inside of each journey. My heart and thoughts are always with you.
The shows/movies that I discuss are not linked, you will have to search them to see where they might currently be available or streaming. - it changes too much to keep up): I am listing them in the reverse order I talked about them but am listing them by category as I mentioned in the episode:
I Recommend:
- The Bear (series)
- Scattering CJ (documentary)
- Reservation Dogs (series)
- Mare of East Town
I recommend WITH Caution (aka "Maybe : depending on you and your place in grief)
- Facing Suicide (documentary)
- Those Left Behind (movie)
- Joe Bell (movie)
- CAKE (movie)
- I Love You, Now Die (documentary)
Probably a "No" for me:
- Girl from Plainville
- Grief (Indie film)
Honorable Mention for "Grief" as the subject:
- The Starling
- Rabbit Hole
- This is Where I Leave You
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My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is where ALL THINGS are to be found - including moms support groups, links to my books and grief growth tools plus resources for all survivors and more. Please reach out to me if you know of someone that I should talk to or if you yourself would like to have a conversation around the suicide loss and grief space.. I am always looking to connect and continue the conversation. melissa@theleftoverpieces.com
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out:
The National Suicide Lifeline is there for you OR 988
TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
in Canada TEXT 686868
in the UK TEXT 85258
And Grievers, I am always here. You can find me on at The Leftover Pieces