Presentation by Dr. Jason Dean and Dr. Rae Dumont

Depression is often misunderstood, accompanied with shame, secrecy or blame. So is suicide. The impact a loss by suicide has on friends and family is enormous. Without open conversations, people often feel alone as they carry the memory and question themselves about what they might have done to help. 

This presentation, in the context of a rising incidence of depression, anxiety and suicide, aims to offer understanding and compassion for people who struggle with mental illness. It  offers insights and comfort to those who have loved a person with depression, and tried to help. 

There will be ample time for discussion and for questions.

Rae Dumont, MD, LMFT, is both a pediatrician and a family therapist. While she practiced and taught at Harvard Medical School, she focused on the impact of one person's illness through the entire family, and on the interconnection between mental and physical health. 

In her family therapy practice, she helped people navigate difficulties by collaborating, rather than becoming divided. 

She is also a mother, a widow, and a friend to many. She now turns her experiences into words that speak of resilience, and the flawed road toward becoming good enough. In her fiction, she finds a personal, intimate voice, which connects emotionally with her readers’ humanity.

In the Shadow of Silence, (2-17-2026) is a novel about love, family life, and depression. She hopes for it to bring insight and comfort to her readers. 

Jason Dean, MD is a child and adult psychiatrist and founder of The Center for Developmental Psychiatry, a group practice in Teaneck, NJ. He is also a Clinical Instructor at Yale School of Medicine.

In his clinical work, he has worked to integrate a biological, medical view of psychiatry with a psychological perspective. Dr. Dean hopes to augment the discussion with insight gained from his clinical experience and training, as well as his work with families of individuals struggling with depression.