This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series, from the Hidden Brain team. It features stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

A few words offered without judgment can leave a lasting impression. Decades ago, a stranger's gentle acceptance gave one woman a way forward when she needed it most.

In 1978, when she was 21, Stacia was struggling with severe depression and attempted suicide. Stacia asked that NPR use only her middle name because she was sharing sensitive information about her mental health.

She was living in a small college town at the time and taken to a nearby hospital, where staff attended to her and took away her shoes to prevent her fr

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