Dr. Ali Mattu chats with #SPSM about the use of stories and science fiction to advocate for suicide prevention and mental health on 11/13/16, 9pCT. Mattu is a psychologist, and a survivor of his brother’s suicide. A self-proclaimed geek, he also hosts a YouTube channel, The PsychShow.

And, in a serendipitously timely way, he also shared a link to prepare for #SPSM about how science fiction reminds us to be optimistic, even in the midst of social crisis.  As we reflect on the election of Donald Trump as U.S. President this week, and the unprecedented rise in calls, texts, and chats to our national crisis services, this is particularly of the moment, and I encourage you to read it.

Watch us LIVE here:

Dr. Ali Mattu is a clinical psychologist who specializes in the treatment of anxiety and body-focused repetitive behaviors (trichotillomania/hair-pulling disorder and excoriation/skin-picking disorder).

He aspires to bring psychology to everyone, everywhere by hosting THE PSYCH SHOW, writing about the psychology of science fiction at Brain Knows Better, presenting to the public, and advocating for the brain and behavior sciences through the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Mattu is an assistant professor at the Columbia University Medical Center. He received his B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles where he majored in psychology and minored in Asian American studies. Dr. Mattu received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He completed a doctoral internship at the Bellevue Hospital Center and a post-doctoral fellowship at the NYU Langone Medical Center’s Child Study Center.

Dr. Mattu is known as a “forward thinker” in the field of psychology and was named one of The Mighty’s mental health heroes of 2015.

Check out some more links:

• https://thenerdsofcolor.org/2015/12/31/the-psychology-of-star-wars-the-force-awakens-could-a-stormtrooper-become-a-hero/
• https://themighty.com/2016/02/the-article-i-wish-id-found-when-i-googled-thinking-about-suicide/
• http://brainknowsbetter.com/news/2014/9/17/doctor-who-reminds-us-that-anxiety-isnt-something-to-fear-its-rocket-fuel
• http://www.storycollider.org/stories/2016/1/8/ali-mattu-my-brother-the-trekkie
• http://comicsalliance.com/stories-of-suicide-myths-risks-and-help-seeking-in-the-creative-community/