Episode 17 TEENAGE SUICIDE - Interview With Mental Health Campaigner & Author Ben West
10/08/23 • 47 min
Suicide rates in England for 15-19 year olds are the highest they have been in 30 years.
The loss of any young person to suicide is utterly tragic and obviously devasting to their family, friends and community.
In the latest episode of ' I Have Issues,' I discuss the issue of teenage suicide.
I'm honoured to be joined by Ben West.
In 2018, when Ben was 17, his younger brother Sam who was 15 died by suicide.
Ben and I talk honestly and openly about Sam, his mental health and his death. Ben discusses the impact this had on him and his family and how he coped in the aftermath of such an incredible loss.
Ben is one of the most engaged mental health campaigners in the UK, committed to making real change around mental health in our society. He campaigns endless, lobbying the government to create positive and meaning change around mental health policies and services. In 2022 Ben wrote his first book , "This Book Could Save Your Life - Breaking the Silence Around the Mental Health Emergency."
This episode as ever has hope as it's focus, and Ben talks about his story as a means to provide support and hope to the listeners.
I appreciate that talking about suicide in teenagers is a frightening topic for many, however it is for that very reason that we need to talk about it.
I'm an adolescent and adult chartered psychologist for the past two decades. This is a completely free and independant podcast, non-sponsored and ad-free to support you with your mental health. Please support this podcast by sharing and rating it. We all have issues, so let's talk about them.
Suicide rates in England for 15-19 year olds are the highest they have been in 30 years.
The loss of any young person to suicide is utterly tragic and obviously devasting to their family, friends and community.
In the latest episode of ' I Have Issues,' I discuss the issue of teenage suicide.
I'm honoured to be joined by Ben West.
In 2018, when Ben was 17, his younger brother Sam who was 15 died by suicide.
Ben and I talk honestly and openly about Sam, his mental health and his death. Ben discusses the impact this had on him and his family and how he coped in the aftermath of such an incredible loss.
Ben is one of the most engaged mental health campaigners in the UK, committed to making real change around mental health in our society. He campaigns endless, lobbying the government to create positive and meaning change around mental health policies and services. In 2022 Ben wrote his first book , "This Book Could Save Your Life - Breaking the Silence Around the Mental Health Emergency."
This episode as ever has hope as it's focus, and Ben talks about his story as a means to provide support and hope to the listeners.
I appreciate that talking about suicide in teenagers is a frightening topic for many, however it is for that very reason that we need to talk about it.
I'm an adolescent and adult chartered psychologist for the past two decades. This is a completely free and independant podcast, non-sponsored and ad-free to support you with your mental health. Please support this podcast by sharing and rating it. We all have issues, so let's talk about them.
Previous Episode
Episode 16 AUTISM - Interview With Expert Autism Psychiatrist Dr Giovanni Giaroli
Are you someone who is living with a diagnosis of Autism?
Do you think you may have Autism?
Are you a family member, partner or friend of someone who has Autism?
In the latest episode of ' I Have Issues,' I discuss the issue of Autism.
There can be a lot of misunderstanding, confusion and misinformation around Autism, leading to people struggling to make sense of what is happening and how to get help.
In this episode I'm joined again by Dr Giovanni Giaroli, Consultant Child, Adolescent & Adult Psychiatrist. Dr Giaroli is the founder and medical director of the renowned Giaroli Centre on Harley Street in London. He is a medical Doctor specialising in Autism across the lifespan (from childhood to adulthood), plus other mental health conditions. Dr Giaroli's deep expertise has lead him to practice as a visiting consultant for various adolescent and adult units (outpatient and inpatient) at the prestigious The Priory Hospital North London, The Priory Hospital Roehampton, and the Nightingale Hospital Marylebone, London.
He is also a corresponding member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) and has published in International Journals on Psychopharmacology in children and adults and has chaired and presented at many international conferences on Autism.
We discuss together Autism as two mental health professionals (a psychologist and a psychiatrist) who treat this condition.
We explore how Autism develops, what happens in an Autistic brain, how it is assessed and treated.
This episode is essential listening for anyone who is living with Autism or who thinks they may have it. It is also important information for family members, partners or friends of people who have Autism.
I'm an adolescent and adult chartered psychologist for the past two decades. This is a completely free and independant podcast, non-sponsored and ad-free to support you with your mental health. Please support this podcast by sharing and rating it. We all have issues, so let's talk about them.
Next Episode
Episode 18 CONTROL - Why Always Controlling Your Feellings Is A Bad Idea!
Do you find it hard to express your emotions and feelings?
Do you try to control your feelings because you are afraid to appear weak?
Have you been told that you are emotionally repressed?
In the latest episode of ' I Have Issues,' I discuss the issue of control.
Control can be used as a way to deal with feelings we don't like and are afraid to express.
We may feel embarrassed, ashamed or guilty about our feelings and so use control to stop ourselves experiencing those negative feelings.
We can end up mentally and psychically unwell as out body tries to cope with all that unexpressed and repressed feeling and energy.
We may never learn how to emotionally regulate and so be prone to over-reacting to small things.
People with an issue of control can struggle to be in healthy relationships, have addiction problems and no surprises be emotionally repressed.
Having a healthy relationship with our feelings is vital as this is a relationship that we can't break up with and control keeps this relationship unhealthy.
I'm a London based adolescent and adult chartered psychologist.
Please share this podcast if you find it helpful.
Also follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok and Facebook for insights on mental health.
I'm an adolescent and adult chartered psychologist for the past two decades. This is a completely free and independant podcast, non-sponsored and ad-free to support you with your mental health. Please support this podcast by sharing and rating it. We all have issues, so let's talk about them.
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