The Leftover Pieces: Suicide Loss Conversations
Suicide loss changes everything. The Leftover Pieces® Podcast explores life after suicide through honest conversations with survivors, experts, and grieving parents learning to live forward after unimaginable loss. Parents, partners, siblings, and friends share what it means to keep living when the world has been forever changed.
Hosted by Melissa Bottorff-Arey, whose 21-year-old son Alex died by suicide in 2016, the show blends intimate conversations with survivors, healers, and mental health professionals with short solo reflections you can actually use. Together we explore child loss, trauma and nervous-system care, anniversaries and seasons, stigma, faith and meaning, legacy, and the everyday practices that help make life livable again.
At its heart, this podcast is about learning to live forward after loss. We never move on from the people we love, but we can learn to carry the grief differently. This road can feel incredibly lonely—but you are not alone here.
For supporters, educators, and professionals, these conversations also offer insight into the realities of suicide grief and what genuine, non-fixing support can look like.
If you’d like to share your story or expertise, you can request to be a guest through Melissa’s website.
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Content Note
This podcast speaks candidly about grief and suicide loss and may feel activating for some listeners. We avoid graphic descriptions and discussion of suicide methods. Please care for yourself as needed. Melissa is not a doctor or licensed therapist, and nothing shared here should be considered medical or mental-health advice.
The Leftover Pieces: Suicide Loss Conversations
Jill Cowan of Healing to the Max; Narrative Therapy and Healing After Suicide Loss
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Today I share my conversation with the amazing Jill Cowan, Max's mom, who lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada. Their family was devastated, and their lives shattered. "Jill is a fellow survivor parent, having lost her beloved son, Maximilian (Max) in March of 2015. Max was just 16 years old. She is also the mother of two surviving children, Zachary and Neave-Marie, a surrogate mommy to Jinx the cat, and wife to a fiery Scottish man, Brian. Jill blogs about navigating her journey of survivorship, and loves all things related to art, fashion and adventure! Jill was a preschool teacher, a daycare provider and now works at the local Ronald McDonald House, supporting sick children and their parents who have extended hospital stays. She loves to travel and someday would like to revisit her roots in the sports of karate and dance. "
Today Jill and I discussing:
- Max's admission of depression, their (great) response to it and the outcome of suicide only 5 months later
- Grief and love and the dualities and complications
- Narrative Therapy - what it is and why it helps grievers of traumatic loss SO much.
- Fighting the Stigma - Talking about Suicide is helpful, not harmful with youth!
- Mental health deficiencies - in Canada and the U.S.
- And So. Much. More!
What they do, who they are, is best described in her own words straight from their website:
"Healing to The Max. Inc. is a compassionate community of support for those who have suffered a traumatic loss by suicide. Our programs of hope and healing are the first of their kind, having been written by a combination of professionals and survivors of a traumatic loss by suicide. They are based on a strong foundation of Narrative Therapy, which is easily adaptable to allow for all cultural nuance's to be adapted. It moves away from the traditional belief that you must achieve closure to heal, and instead, invites to practice the art of "Saying Hello, Again". We keep the connection going far beyond the structured programmes ... while they "Learn to live with grief and joy, hand in hand."
Find Healing to the Max (.org) HERE
INSTAGRAM HERE
FACEBOOK HERE
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PS....LAST SESSION of the Legacy Writing Project for 2023 starting August 16 (sign ups close at week 2 Aug 23) BUT you can get on the wait list for January anytime!
For a way to leave a Legacy of your child - GO HERE
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My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" support central.
The latest Legacy projects are NOW published BOOKS -- GET THEM HERE!!!
ALSO, my first two books (tools I have created for you!) in the "Facing Life After Suicide" series are available on Amazon
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out:
CALL 988 OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
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💜 The Leftover Pieces is support for life after suicide loss. Click links below
🎙 Leave me a message: Share a question, your story, or your person’s name for a future episode → theleftoverpieces.com/voicemail
🔗 Stay connected: Join my email community for weekly support, resources, and honest conversations.
🛠 Start here: Explore website for suicide loss resources for early grief, family support, and next steps.
🤝 For moms: One-on-one grief coaching for mothers navigating life after child loss.
📞 Need support right now? If you or someone you love is struggling, call or text 988 (U.S. & Canada), or text HOME to 741741.