The Depression Lied to Him: A Mother Confronts the Invisible Illness That Took Her Son

He looked fine—until he wasn’t. Just eleven weeks after sharing his struggles, Charlie was gone. In this powerful episode, Betsy Thibaut Stephenson reveals how depression lied to her son and why telling the hard truth is key to healing. In today's episode, I'm joined by Betsy Thibaut Stephenson, a writer, communications professional, and mother based in Alexandria, Virginia. After the unexpected death of her 21-year-old son, Charlie, by suicide, Betsy began writing as a way to process her grief, eventually shaping her reflections into the poignant and powerful book Blackbird. With decades of experience helping others find their voice, she now uses her own to break the silence around suicide, mental health, and the complexities of loss. Her work is grounded in compassion, clarity, and the belief that honesty is essential to healing—offering hope to anyone navigating the aftermath of profound sorrow. Throughout this episode, Betsy brought those same qualities—honesty, courage, and clarity—to the forefront as she reflected on her family’s decision to be fully transparent about Charlie’s death. She shared how that openness not only helped their loved ones support them more effectively, but also created space for deeper community understanding. We explored the deceptive nature of depression, the emotional and physical toll of grief, and how writing became a lifeline in her healing journey. Betsy also discussed the structure and purpose behind Blackbird—a collection of short, digestible entries designed to meet grieving readers where they are. Her reflections serve as a powerful reminder that telling our stories, even when painful, can become a vital source of strength and connection. Tune in to episode 326 as Betsy Thibaut Stephenson shares how embracing openness, writing through sorrow, and honoring her son Charlie’s life helped her navigate the depths of grief and find a path toward healing and connection. In This Episode, You Will Learn: Choosing radical openness after suicide (01:33) Making sense of an incomprehensible loss (06:31) “The brain lies to you” - Understanding depression (9:11) Letting go of guilt while living with it (12:51) Why and how she wrote Blackbird (15:20) Coping with loss and moving forward (17:48) Grief and the fog of memory (21:01) The book she needed but couldn't find (23:00) The hard things need to be said (31:30) Connect with Betsy Thibaut Stephenson: Website Instagram LinkedIn Facebook Get Betsy’s book! Let's Connect: Website LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Pinterest The Grief and Happiness Alliance Book: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.