#ReadThis @DrJAshton @WmMorrowBooks @HarperCollins LIFE AFTER SUICIDE Finding Courage, Comfort, & Community After Unthinkable Loss by Jennifer Ashton, M.D. Thank You @DrOz for your suggestion!
Mental Health is not something we speak about often, as Peachy is NOT a doctor and we recommend things that are concrete and black and white. We suggest what to wear, what to use, where to go, and what to eat among our 200 plus columns. However, just because we don't talk about it all the time doesn't mean we don't think it's important. We want you to be healthy, and Dr. Oz has brought our attention to this in many ways, and specifically, through this book. It is a masterpiece and an honest, well-written tribute to an experience we hope none of you have to go through but fear many of you have. We had no idea of the epidemic of suicide today.
We do speak the gospel of Ever to Excel, and celebrate excellence at all levels. What goes with pressure to do well and stay on top of your game is stressful, and we did know two restaurant owners in Manhattan that were absolutely phenomenal, both of whom committed suicide. We hope the number never goes to three. Life After Suicide is an incredibly personal look at literally how to move forward by Dr. Jennifer Ashton, whom we do not know, but we would like to. She is correct in stating in the introduction that this is a book about hope, strength and resilience.
Ashton's ability to reach out and connect with her audience supersedes her intelligence and medical ability, which we understand is extraordinary in itself. For this reason alone, even if you have not encountered suicide personally, this book paints a picture of how it is to relate to and how to be a good, real friend in the wake of tragedy. She even gives good examples of how NOT to be. Jennifer's storytelling skills are stellar and spot-on and she scores a hat trick in her story of the third night and the gray cotton shirt.
This book is also about Manhattan, which is what our whole site is about. Ashton's correlation of walking down the street on a near-perfect day and the hot water coming is exactly what it feels like when something bad happens...(p. 102)
We like that she likes perfection and when life goes according to plan. Guess who else is like that. But as she says man plans, God laughs. (p. 117) We like how she highlights how the greatest comfort can come from unexpected places, and we love the stories about Melissa Rivers. (We reviewed as many of Joan's books as possible!) It did make sense that the second year was harder.
Jennifer's life attitude about priorities is perfect and we love that she has zero tolerance for drama and pettiness. (p. 111). We actually did some research and did find a cut the crap pillow but have yet to hear back from the brand owner for review. It isn't needlepoint but maybe we could do that.
If you have dealt with or are dealing with suicide, Jennifer does give you exact steps on what you can do which we imagine are invaluable. She also lists resources in the back.
Above all else, we think it is fabulous that Chloe plays hockey which is among the greatest things one can do. (see NHL Peachy and our near 1,000 posts on the greatest sport in the world...)
Life After Suicide is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know.
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Jennifer Ashton, M.D., is a doctor, mother, and friend who has witnessed firsthand the impact of a loved one’s suicide. When her ex-husband killed himself in February 2017 soon after their divorce, her world—and that of her children—was shattered. Though she held a very public position with one of the world’s largest media companies, she was hesitant to speak about the personal trauma that she and her family experienced following his death. But with the high-profile suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain in 2018, Dr. Ashton recognized the importance of talking about her experience and the power of giving voice to her grief. In a quest to provide comfort and solace to the countless others who have had to face the aftermath of suicide, she first shared her story with her Good Morning America family on air in an honest and heartbreaking interview.
This May, William Morrow is proud to publish Dr. Ashton’s moving new book, LIFE AFTER SUICIDE, a call to arms against this dangerous, devastating epidemic and an affecting story of personal grief and loss.
In her new book, Dr. Ashton opens up completely for the first time about her experience and gives an eye-opening and gut-wrenching view into the way suicide affects those left behind. Dr. Ashton also includes interviews and stories from others who have survived the death of a loved one by suicide and offers tales of resilience, hope, healing, and courage to show how those faced with the unthinkable are able to persevere. Plus, she tackles the vital roles that conversation and community play in a loved one’s recovery.
Staggering facts about suicide according to the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention:
· Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.
· In 2017 there were an estimated 1,300,000 suicide attempts and 47,173 Americans died by suicide. That’s an average of 129 suicides per day.
· In 2017, men died by suicide 3.54x more often than women.
· The rate of suicide is highest in middle age — white men in particular.
· Suicide and self-injury cost the US $ 69 billion annually.
LIFE AFTER SUICIDE is a raw and revealing exploration of a subject that’s been taboo for far too long. This book is timely and essential in our world today and will provide support, information, and comfort for those trying to make sense of their loss and find a way to heal.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
ABC News’ Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Jennifer Ashton, is the country’s leading voice of Women’s Health. Dr. Ashton is a board-certified OB-GYN, author and is board-certified in Obesity Medicine.
Dr. Ashton is a graduate of Columbia College, Columbia University. She then received her medical degree from Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, where she was elected Class President for four consecutive years. Upon graduation, she was awarded the prestigious Bartlestone Award in Pharmacology. Dr. Ashton received her post-graduate training in women’s health and surgery at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center in NYC, an affiliate of Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. She served as Administrative Chief Resident and was awarded Chief Resident of the Year upon completing her residency. She received a Master of Science Degree in Nutrition from the Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons Institute of Human Nutrition in 2016, making Dr. Ashton one of the only M.D.'s with a national media platform who also has a degree in Nutrition. She is one of the few physicians with media platforms who still sees patients and has an active medical practice for women’s gynecology and obesity/weight management.
Since 2012, she has also been the Senior Medical Contributor for Good Morning America and World News Tonight, ABC News. From 2009-2011, Dr. Ashton was the Medical Correspondent for CBS News Network, where she received the prestigious Columbia Alfred DuPont Award for Excellence in Journalism for her work. Dr. Ashton is the author of three books: Eat This Not That When Expecting, The Body Scoop for Girls, and Your Body Beautiful. Dr. Ashton also has a monthly feature column, "Ask Dr. Ashton", in Cosmopolitan Magazine. In January 2010, Dr. Ashton travelled to Haiti with a medical team where she treated victims of the earthquake for 8 days.
Dr. Ashton is a frequent keynote speaker and moderator for national events with topics ranging across all women’s health, wellness, and prevention. She is committed to improving the lives of girls and women through increasing health literacy and busting myths that have been propagated via folklore with little medical or scientific basis. She has a ‘girlfriend’s’ approachable demeanor with Ivy League credentials that combine to make her the definitive voice for Women’s Health in the modern age. As a mom of 2 teenagers, Dr. Ashton not only ‘talks the talk’ but ‘walks the walk’, proving that commitment to good nutrition, fitness, sleep and stress reduction are the cornerstones to health and wellness. With her MD, and credentials in Nutrition, along with her accomplishments as a triathlete, cyclist and fitness enthusiast, Dr. Ashton is as comfortable discussing the latest workout or diet trend, as she is counseling on cancer screening or reproductive health issues facing women.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
LIFE AFTER SUICIDE by Jennifer Ashton, M.D.
William Morrow Hardcover, On Sale Date: May 7, 2019
ISBN: 9780062906038
E-book ISBN: 9780062906069
Dr. Ashton’s ABC Radio podcast “Life After Suicide” launches Wednesday, May 1!
Like the book, the podcast is a roadmap to survival and offers inspiring insight on how to regain balance and get back to life. Drawing from her own tragic experience to explore the aftermath of suicide and sudden loss, Dr. Ashton speaks with people living with loss who have moved through guilt, anger and hopelessness to a new normal, as well as with survivors and specialists in medicine, faith and more on how to heal from a traumatic experience. The free eight-part podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Spotify, Stitcher and the ABC News app, with new episodes every Wednesday. 
