Erin Blechman (part 1): More Than How He Died

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Erin Blechman describes her son Max as one of the most interesting people she has ever known. He was intelligent, creative, compassionate, funny, and deeply sensitive. He played music, wrote poetry and short stories, performed stand up comedy, and cared deeply about the injustices he saw in the world.

Max also lived with major depressive disorder, and in June of 2020, at age 25, he died by suicide.

In Part 1 of this two part conversation, Erin shares Max’s life beyond the circumstances of his death and speaks openly about the earliest days of child loss, the fog of grief, the yearning to be with your child again, anger, survival, and the isolation bereaved parents can experience.

Bruce and Erin also explore the relationship between grief and trauma, and why understanding both can be an important part of learning to live after the unimaginable.

This episode includes an open conversation about suicide, mental health, and child loss.