Manny’s: Why We Suffer and How We Heal with Dr. Suzan Song

Navigating the mental toll of the headlines with UN advisor, humanitarian psychiatrist Dr. Suzan Song

Stress, burnout, and collective anxiety have become the air we breathe – whether from grieving a loved one, losing a job, or simply trying to keep up with a world in overdrive.

Drawing on decades of work with children and adult survivors of war and displacement, as well as those coping with the routine pressures of professional life and relationships, Harvard- and Stanford-trained psychiatrist and medical anthropologist Dr. Suzan Song reveals that resilience and navigating instability isn’t about toughness or mindfulness, but rather three timeless tools that heal the human psyche: narrative, ritual, and purpose. She refers to it as the “psychosocial vaccine” and the “three friends of winter,” a nod to the Asian art motif symbolizing plants that thrive in the harshest winters.

In this event, Dr. Song will translate the human impact beneath several of today’s biggest headlines: the loneliness crisis, AI and layoff anxiety, immigration crackdowns, global displacement, and more.

She is the author of the timely new book WHY WE SUFFER AND HOW WE HEAL: Using Narrative, Ritual, and Purpose to Flourish Through Life’s Challenges (Feb 24, Harmony), a groundbreaking, science-backed accessible roadmap to healing.Dr. Song has advised the United Nations, U.S. federal agencies, and Ministries of Health, and is a frequent voice on NPR, MSNBC, and other media outlets. Her message – that healing is not just personal but cultural – is urgent and universal.