My ‘One Word’ this week is: AMYGDALA

Suicide is the tragic result of a sudden failure of the brain to see any other alternative.

It’s what Leslie Weirich calls an “Amygdala Hijack.”

Her son Austin died by suicide in 2016 and she has since made it her mission to end the stigma surrounding mental health. Not only does Leslie share Austin’s story on stages across the country, she also educates youth about brain development, specifically the prefrontal cortex.

The prefrontal cortex is where upper level decision-making takes place. During our podcast conversation, Leslie shared that scientists used to believe it was developed by age 25, but they’ve since moved that number up to 27.

Austin, a football player at 6’4” and 240 lbs., had 7 more years for his brain to be fully developed. “He had the brain of a young boy even though he looked like a young man,” Leslie said to me.

Austin wanted to end an overwhelming pain. He was mentally hijacked by anger and sadness. In a split second, his prefrontal cortex got overwhelmed and failed him.

Austin died of a loss of hope because he could not logically reason his way to the next moment.

Leslie wants people to hold on to hope, so she leaves audiences with specific tools to use.

One of those tools is a wristband that says: Text HOME to 741741

You can also call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Leslie assures everyone she speaks to that their brains are going to feel different 5,10,15 minutes from the moment they lose hope. She wants them to remember what Austin couldn’t—there is always an alternative.

#HOPE37🏈