Losing a loved one to suicide can cause unimaginable grief. Dealing with your own suicidal ideation and depression after the fact is even harder.
Find out what you can do if you’re a suicide survivor and/or experiencing suicidal ideation as we chat with Jennifer Mah.
Jennifer Mah is a financial coach, ChooseFI Community Manager, consultant, and freelancer. According to her bio, her vision is to help people take control of their money and build a financial foundation which provides stability, security, options, and the ability to create a life they love.
Listen as Jennifer shares vulnerable moments about being a suicide survivor and dealing with her own suicidal ideation. She talks about her mental health struggles and how it evolved throughout the years.
Jennifer also shares her divorce, debt, and unemployment journey that resulted in her losing her home and heightening her depression. Find out how she dealt with all of it, where she’s at now and how she’s pursuing financial independence.
What You Will Learn From This Episode
- What to do if you’re having suicidal ideation
- The 3 barriers that Asian-American communities face when getting mental health care
- What you should do if you know someone who is struggling mentally and emotionally
- How to transition to Financial Independence
- What to do if you’re trying to find a home and build your life again
- Why setting up safety nets are important
“Part of the evolution in my mental health journey is that it’s coming to grips with the idea that there is strength in being vulnerable and there is strength in identifying the times when you do need help. It takes a lot of energy though.” – Jennifer Mah
“There is an emotional labor and burden that the person you’re trying to help may not be able to meet. Even if they’re drowning, they can’t raise that hand.” – Jennifer Mah
“I grew up thinking that it’s really normal to have debt.” – Jennifer Mah
“By being very focused on conscious spending, I was able to build-up enough financial withdrawal to take a stab at this (Financial Independence) experiment.” – Jennifer Mah
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Timestamps
2:33 – Jennifer’s mental health struggles – her sister’s suicide, what are her coping skills and the therapies/counseling that she took
6:30 – How being a Chinese-American affected her mental health and how her mental health journey evolved through the years
10:52 – What you should do if you know someone who is struggling mentally and emotionally
12:25 – The 3 barriers that Asian-American communities face when getting mental health care
20:58 – If you’re experiencing suicidal ideation listen to this!
27:49 – On divorce, debt, unemployment and losing her home plus how all these struggles affected her mental health
36:40 – How she was able to transition to Financial Independence
40:26 – One tip for people who are trying to find a home and build their lives again plus how Jennifer looks at her overall wellbeing
42:10 – Jennifer’s Financial Independence Journey and how she’s taking care of her financial and mental health today
49:00 – Organizing get-togethers and having a living room dance party during these times plus why you need to set-up a safety net before a crisis
Resources
Connect with Jennifer
- You Money Your Life Financial Coaching
- You Money Your Life Financial Coaching FB page
Connect with Melanie
- mentalhealthandwealth.com
- melanielockert.com
- Contact: mentalhealthandwealthshow@gmail.com
