How to talk about suicide with kids, parents, educators, and more. Christopher and Martha Thomas talk about The Defensive Line organization they run as a new purpose from the pain of the suicide death of their daughter.
In this powerful episode of Unlocked, host Madelyn Blair sits down with Chris and Martha Thomas, founders of The Defensive Line, to discuss suicide, mental health, and how to transform pain into purpose. The Thomases share their deeply personal story of loss and how it inspired their work in suicide prevention, especially among young people and communities of color. They explore practical tools for suicide awareness, the importance of compassionate connection, and how to recognize warning signs in loved ones. This episode provides both heartfelt insights and actionable advice for anyone touched by mental health struggles or looking to support those in need.
In this episode you will learn:
1. The Thomases’ story of founding The Defensive Line after the tragic loss of their daughter Ella to suicide, and how they are working to break stigmas around mental health in diverse communities.
2. Practical strategies, including the D-Lines framework, for recognizing suicide warning signs, starting supportive conversations, and taking compassionate action.
3. The importance of treating mental health with the same urgency as physical health, and how strong connections and representation foster healing and resilience.
4. Community-based approaches to suicide prevention, how to access resources like 988 and crisis text lines, and why every leader, parent, coach, and teacher plays a crucial role.
Guest introduction:
Chris and Martha Thomas are the co-founders of The Defensive Line, an organization inspired by the life and memory of their daughter Ella, and dedicated to suicide prevention and mental health equity. Martha brings over 30 years of experience as an educator and is recognized as a respected voice in the mental health field, while Chris leverages a long career in corporate leadership and a deep commitment to equity in mental health care, especially for communities of color. Together, they have conducted trainings, spoken at leading universities and conferences, and served on multiple non-profit boards, tirelessly working to save lives and destigmatize open conversations about suicide. Their work, partnership, and message of hope have inspired audiences on the NFL Network, ESPN, CNN, and beyond.
/ @francine_ayala 
/ alexcowan 
/ gail.kraft.77 