When Mental Illness Turns Deadly: One Family’s Unimaginable Story

In this deeply moving episode of Eternally, Amy, Amy sits down with author Alex Konicke to explore the unthinkable — loving a family member through severe mental illness, surviving devastating loss, and choosing truth over silence. Alex shares the story behind his memoir Evil Among Us, chronicling the events that led to his mother’s death at the hands of his brother during a psychotic break, and the systemic failures that followed. Together, Amy and Alex discuss intuition, boundaries, grief, recovery, and the courage it takes to tell a story that could save lives.TakeawaysWhy trusting your intuition in crisis situations mattersThe difference between compassion and enablingHow systemic gaps in mental health care impact familiesThe role of storytelling in trauma recoveryWhat it means to survive — and still advocate for changeKey Timestamps00:01 – Introducing Alex Konicke and Evil Among Us00:06 – The warning signs and the hospital discharge00:15 – Trusting your gut when something feels wrong00:23 – Writing through trauma and grief00:34 – Advocacy, accountability, and systemic change00:44 – Alex’s mission moving forwardNotable Resources & Guest LinksEvil Among Us by Alex Konicke (Amazon)Audible & Spotify Audiobook (launching January 19)CTAIf this episode moved you, please share it with someone navigating mental health challenges or recovery. Your share could save a life.Follow Alex: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/alexkonicke/⁠Buy Alex’s Book: ⁠https://a.co/d/ibqqLsA⁠For more from Amy Liz Harrison, visit ⁠www.amylizharrison.com⁠ and follow along on social @amylizharrison.Be kind. Rewind. Thank you for the honor of your time. Take what you like and leave the rest behind.