“The shame was intense!” How Ben West coped with his brother’s suicide

About this episode

<p>Ben West was 17 when his younger brother died by suicide. He’s since gone on to become a mental health campaigner, and has found humour can help communicate deeply traumatic messages.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In this chat with Fearne, Ben talks through what signs to look for if you’re concerned about someone’s mental health. Then, how do you break the awkward silence when you both know you need to talk about a big topic like poor mental health? You’ll be able to approach the conversation in a compassionate, rather than confronting, way.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Or, maybe you’re the one keeping big thoughts and feelings inside but have become a master of masking your truth. Fearne shares her experience of feeling defensive and telling people she’s ‘fine’ when they asked concerned questions.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Ben also takes a thorough look at the mental health system and explains the reality of what care looks like in the UK (and what he’s doing to change it for the better!)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Plus, how have people like Andrew Tate affected boys’ mental health? And why is finding the right therapist is a bit like dating...?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>CONTENT WARNING: This episode is all about the reality of suicide.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://pod.fo/e/147a1a" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Richard E. Grant</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://pod.fo/e/e3096" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>Ashley Cain</u></a></p><br><p><a href="https://pod.fo/e/14b6fa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>Roman Kemp</u></a></p><p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p>Child on the line is a three-part documentary podcast series celebrating the Volunteer Counsellors of Childline, and the brave children &amp; young people who contact the helpline service.</p><p>Listen here: <a href="https://www.childonthelinepodcast.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.childonthelinepodcast.com/</a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>