David Susman

You Are Absolutely Worth It

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Stories of Hope: An Interview with Michelle Balge This is part of a series featuring individuals who share their life experiences with mental health issues. Recently, I asked author, web designer and advocate Michelle Balge about her mental health journey and her current activities. Here’s our interview: DS: Tell us about when you first started becoming aware of concerns related to your mental health. How did these issues continue to affect you before you sought treatment? MB: I became aware of my mental illnesses …

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A Song of Recovery

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“If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.” – Will Rogers This is a story about music, friendship, hope, and recovery. When I was growing up in a small town in the Appalachian mountains of southwestern Virginia, one of my best friends was Kevin McGraw. Kevin and I shared a common interest: music. We both played in the high school band and sang in the performing chorus, which was directed by Kevin’s mother, …

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Give Yourself Time to Heal

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Stories of Hope: An Interview with Kimberly Ferguson This is part of a series featuring individuals who share their life experiences with mental health issues. Recently, I asked author and advocate Kimberly Ferguson about her mental health journey and her current activities. Here’s our interview: DS: Tell us about when you first started becoming aware of concerns related to your mental health. How did these issues continue to affect you before you sought treatment? KF: The year was 1993. I was …

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Mental Health Benefits of Yoga

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I was fortunate to be able to talk recently with Lili Graue, a registered yoga teacher, who has started an innovative program using yoga techniques to address mental health concerns including anxiety, depression, and trauma, to name a few. I asked Lili a few questions about how yoga is used in this way, its benefits, and about her program. Here’s our interview: DS: Most people have heard of yoga, but what is yoga for trauma? LG: Yoga for trauma is …

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We Cannot Grieve Alone

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Stories of Hope: An Interview with Maryanne Pope This is part of a series featuring individuals who share their life experiences with mental health issues. Recently, I asked author and advocate Maryanne Pope about her mental health journey and her current activities. Here’s our interview: DS: Tell us about when you first started becoming aware of concerns related to your mental health. How did these issues continue to affect you before you sought treatment? MP: My experience with mental health issues was …

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“Owning” Bipolar Disorder

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Recently I had a chance to review a new book called “Owning Bipolar: How Patients and Families Can Take Control of Bipolar Disorder.” I found the book to be very interesting and a good resource. Subsequently, I was able to get some additional information from the book’s author, therapist Michael Pipich. I think you’ll find the conversation with Michael very interesting and illuminating. Why did you decide to focus on bipolar disorder? After over 30 years of therapy practice, I …

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It All Starts with Love and Listening

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Stories of Hope: An Interview with Rebecca Schaper This is part of a series featuring individuals who share their life experiences with mental health issues. Recently, I asked mental health advocate, filmmaker and author Rebecca Schaper about her family’s mental health journey and her chronicle of their journey in her documentary and book. Here’s our interview: DS: You’ve done both a documentary (“A Sister’s Call”) and a companion book (“The Light in His Soul: Lessons From My Brother’s Schizophrenia) about your …

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How to Express Your Mental Health Advocacy (part 2: fully dressed)

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So you want to be a mental health advocate. You’re well informed about the issues. You have a passion to make a difference. You want your voice to be heard. You’re ready to take action. Now what? How can you express your mental health advocacy? There are many, many options. If this intro sounds strangely familiar, it should. In a recent post, I covered several ways to get your advocacy groove on while still at home and comfy in your …

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