Jillian Eidem introduces Vital Voyage's Teen Suicide Prevention Series with an urgent look at teen mental health, suicide risk, social media pressure, academic stress, substance use, warning signs, and the small acts of connection that can keep young people from feeling alone.

Damon R. Postle, Ph.D., writes with brutal honesty about surviving the suicide death of his brother Matt, the last words between them, missed goodbyes, hospitalization, stroke, and the unbearable silence left when a musician is gone. A raw grief essay about guilt, trauma, love, and staying alive.

ADHD and substance use disorders often travel together, and Dr. Lauren Grawert explains why that overlap is not simply a coincidence. Drawing on genetic, clinical, and treatment research, she describes shared risk, the dangers of untreated ADHD, and the importance of coordinated care. The article also challenges the idea that ADHD treatment should wait until substance use is fully in remission, offering a more integrated path for better recovery and functional outcomes.