The Audacity to Build 988: Kristen Christy on Suicide Prevention, Stigma, and National Change

Episode Summary What does it take to turn private grief into national change? In this deeply human and unflinching conversation, Robbin Jorgensen sits down with Kristen Christy — a national leader in suicide prevention, military spouse, and the originator of what became the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Kristen’s story is layered with both love and loss: a life-altering stroke as a teenager, the strength of community in military life, and the devastating reality of losing her husband to suicide. But the story doesn’t end there. She speaks candidly about what families live with in the aftermath — the ongoing weight, the unanswered questions, and the lifelong impact on children. Out of that lived experience came a radical question, asked in the quiet hours of the night: Why do we have a three-digit number for medical emergencies — but not for mental health crises? That question became a decade-long fight through stigma, bureaucracy, and relentless “no’s,” ultimately helping bring 988 to life nationwide in 2022. This episode is about audacity at a national scale — and the way one woman turned grief into action, persistence into policy, and heartbreak into hope. Kristen also shares her three-step definition of real resilience, why “No” means “Next Opportunity,” and why hope isn’t a feeling — it’s a practice we choose, again and again. Key Moments 03:12 — A stroke at 15 — and the moment everything changed 07:48 — The night her husband died by suicide 20:53 — Living with uncertainty: her son’s disappearance 24:48 — A voicemail that reveals the generational impact of suicide 04:55 — The 3 a.m. question: why not a three-digit number for mental health? 08:27 — 988 goes live nationwide 12:13 — “No” means “Next Opportunity” 16:39 — The three steps of real resilience Resources & Support If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available. Call or text 988 (United States) to connect with trained crisis counselors 24/7. Free and confidential. Text and chat available. For LGBTQ+ youth and young adults, additional support is available through The Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or thetrevorproject.org. Connect with Kristen Christy Website: https://www.kristenchristycares.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenchristy/ Continue the Conversation The thinking continues beyond the mic. Explore essays, reflections, and extended conversations on Substack: https://substack.com/@robbinjorgensen Connect with Robbin Jorgensen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbinjorgensen/ Supporting Sponsor: As a woman navigating financial decisions — especially when the system wasn’t built with you in mind — having the right partner matters. For three decades, Godfrey Financial has intentionally centered women in financial decision-making — not as an afterthought, but as leaders. In a field where women are often expected to sit to the side, Godfrey Financial places women at the head of the table - creating space where women don’t just discuss confidence and agency, but experience it in practice. Learn more at: https://godfreyfinancial.com