Episode 416: “Suicide Attempt: Moving Forward With Hope” with Author Bill Konigsberg

To Write Love on Her Arms

In the final episode of season four and to close out the Another Day With You campaign, we talk to someone who attempted suicide at the age of 27 and went on to write a book inspired by his own experience. That person is author Bill Konigsberg and that book is The Bridge. In our conversation, you’ll hear about Bill’s chronic, untreated depression which led to an attempt, and how writing the book became a way to dispel the lies his brain was telling him while encouraging readers to realize how valuable and interwoven their lives truly are.

Along with The Bridge, Bill is the author of five young-adult novels, which have won awards including the Stonewall Book Award, the Sid Fleischman Award for Humor, and the Lambda Literary Award. He currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with his husband, Chuck, and their two Labradoodles, Mabel and Buford—who you might hear barking in the background during the interview.

Show Notes (Links of ours and guests):

Download a transcript of this episode at twloha.com/podcast.

Follow TWLOHA on social media at:

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facebook.com/towriteloveonherarms/

Visit our FIND HELP page of mental health resources at twloha.com/find-help/.

Get connected for free, 24/7 to a trained crisis counselor via Crisis Text Line by texting TWLOHA to 741741.

Connect with our team by emailing [e-mail].

Learn more about the podcast and previous episodes at twloha.com/podcast.

Read Bill’s words on the TWLOHA at twloha.com/blog/stay-another-day/.

Purchase The Bridge by going to store.twloha.com and typing in The Bridge in the search bar.

Learn more about and connect with author Bill Konigsberg at billkonigsberg.com/about/.

Visit store.twloha.com/ to purchase merchandise that supports TWLOHA’s mission.

Download The Hopeful, a free daily-use self-care app from TWLOHA, at twloha.com/thehopeful/.

Credits:

This episode of the TWLOHA podcast was hosted by Chad Moses and produced by Rebecca Ebert. Music assistance was provided by James Likeness and Ben Tichenor.