She Left a Mental Health Facility and Bought a Gun. Her Mother Is Fighting to Change That

She Left a Mental Health Facility and Bought a Gun. Her Mother Is Fighting to Change That

From Grieving Out Loud: A Mother Coping with Loss in the Opioid Epidemic by Angela Kennecke

April 8, 2026 · 42 min · Season 8 · Episode 260

About this episode

Larissa Strong shares her heartbreaking experience of losing her daughter Hailey after she was allowed to leave a mental health facility.

Over the past two decades, suicide rates have steadily risen across the United States. Even when family and friends notice the warning signs and try to get help, the outcome can still be devastating. That’s the heartbreaking story of today’s guest on Grieving Out Loud. Larissa Strong’s daughter, Hailey, had been receiving care in an inpatient mental health facility after a suicide attempt. Despite that, Larissa says the facility allowed her daughter to leave, and within 48 hours, Hailey was a...

People in this episode

Guest: Larissa Strong

Topics covered

  • mental health
  • suicide prevention
  • opioid epidemic
  • grief
  • family support

Keywords

  • mental health facility
  • suicide rates
  • warning signs
  • inpatient care

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Grieving Out Loud

Places: the United States

More episodes of Grieving Out Loud: A Mother Coping with Loss in the Opioid Epidemic

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Grieving Out Loud: A Mother Coping with Loss in the Opioid Epidemic podcast page.