David Woods Bartley is a suicide attempt survivor, a three-time TEDx speaker and a mental health advocate who has spoken to audiences around the world. He explains why he stopped using the phrase “suicide prevention,” how the Army has taken up “life preservation,” and the simple things anyone can do to give someone hope.

Dr. Tamara Patzer talks with David Woods Bartley about a different way to talk about the hardest subject in mental health.

David is a suicide attempt survivor, and the term “suicide prevention” never sat right with him. A walk with his dogs gave him the answer: we don’t wear an anti-drowning jacket, we wear a life jacket. People work the 12 steps to live a sober life, not an addiction-free one. We are built for self-preservation, not self-prevention. From that idea came his message of life preservation, which the Army has taken up in its own training.

In this conversation:

• Why “life preservation” is easier to say out loud than “suicide prevention”
• Why asking “what” invites people to share and asking “why” demands proof
• What belief has to do with despair, and why truth alone rarely changes a firmly held belief
• How feeling seen, heard and valued can give someone hope in about 15 seconds
• Three habits anyone can do: use people’s names, ask a real question, and say something when you see something that inspires you
• What David has seen working with military audiences
• What it took to become a three-time TEDx speaker, and why the idea matters more than the delivery

About the guest:
David Woods Bartley has given hundreds of presentations on four continents. His audiences have included the Army, Coast Guard, Air Force and Marine Corps, NASA, the Veterans Administration and the Food and Drug Administration. He is a three-time TEDx speaker and was named a 2021 Mental Health Champion by the Steinberg Institute. He was also named Speaker of the Year 2025 at the Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Excellence Awards. He holds certifications in Mental Health First Aid, SafeTALK and QPR.

Connect with David:

• Website: davidwoodsbartley.com
• Instagram: @davidwoodsbartley
• Email: david@davidwoodsbartley.com

If you or someone you know is struggling: In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, any time.

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