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May 2023
31m 13s

Stopping the Teen Suicide Epidemic With ...

Laurette Rondenet
About this episode

“The fact that our young people are learning that it's okay to ask for help, that's an amazing win.” — Kari Eckert


In this episode of Owning Your Legacy,  Laurette is joined by Kari Eckert, the founder and executive director of Robbie’s Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teen suicide prevention. Kari’s son Robbie took his own life at the age of 15.

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among teens in the U.S. and the number one cause in Colorado, where Robbie’s Hope began. But what’s more staggering than the statistics is that there isn’t more being done to help the individuals affected most—teens.

The mission of Robbie’s Hope is to empower a generation of teens to let each other know it’s okay to not be okay. Laurette and Kari discuss the prevalence of teen anxiety and depression, and what needs to be done to bring this tough conversation to the forefront.

In this episode of Owning Your Legacy:

  • The shortage of therapists today; 
  • The prevalence of anxiety in young children and teens; 
  • Dealing with loss, grief, and healing; 
  • The importance of opening up the conversation on suicide; 
  • Social media’s role in teen depression and anxiety.


In Case of an Emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline call 988 or text TALK to 8255.

If you enjoyed the episode please share it with others, and rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about me and how I am Owning My Legacy, you can find me on Instagram @LauretteRondenet and online at lauretterondenet.com.

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