“The shame was intense!” How Ben West coped with his brother’s suicide
Happy Place13 Tammi 2025

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

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.

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.

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.

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!)

Plus, how have people like Andrew Tate affected boys’ mental health? And why is finding the right therapist is a bit like dating...?

CONTENT WARNING: This episode is all about the reality of suicide.

If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:

Richard E. Grant

Ashley Cain


Roman Kemp

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(446)

"Why does criticism hurt so much?" Dr Julie on triggers and behaviour patterns

"Why does criticism hurt so much?" Dr Julie on triggers and behaviour patterns

Ever looked in the mirror and told yourself “I am enough” ...and not believed a word of it? Psychologist Dr Julie Smith reckons affirmations only work to boost confidence if – deep down – you already ...

25 Touko 58min

Dr Louise Newson: Anxiety! Joint pain! The perimenopause symptoms you’re ignoring

Dr Louise Newson: Anxiety! Joint pain! The perimenopause symptoms you’re ignoring

One in six women arriving at Dr Louise Newson's menopause clinic have suicidal thoughts. 92% see those thoughts reduce with natural hormones, so why are women still being prescribed antidepressants in...

21 Touko 56min

Fear can be wonderful or destructive! How to negotiate with doubt, with Joseph Fiennes

Fear can be wonderful or destructive! How to negotiate with doubt, with Joseph Fiennes

Without something creative to pour himself into, actor Joseph Fiennes says he'd eat himself alive.In this chat with Fearne, Joseph thinks about why if he doesn't have a challenge to wear him out, rest...

18 Touko 50min

I still get triggered! Fearne on how to heal, cope with hangxiety, and having an empty nest

I still get triggered! Fearne on how to heal, cope with hangxiety, and having an empty nest

Fearne isn’t a massive fan of the relentless pressure to reach a definitive state of happiness. It’s just not realistic, so she’s dropping into your feed every week for some chat about what’s making h...

14 Touko 14min

Sex scenes are liberating! Nafessa Williams on Rivals, racism, and self-belief

Sex scenes are liberating! Nafessa Williams on Rivals, racism, and self-belief

Sex scenes involve a lot more padding and tape than you might expect! Rivals actress Nafessa Williams has found being at the centre of one of TV’s sexiest shows both nerve-wracking and incredibly libe...

11 Touko 48min

Play therapy rewires the brain! Facing childhood traumas, with The King’s Trust

Play therapy rewires the brain! Facing childhood traumas, with The King’s Trust

Everyone deserves the chance at a fulfilling life. Shauna Tiffany grew up in foster care, feeling ashamed of and responsible for her parents’ choices. Creative play therapy helped her work through her...

7 Touko 26min

Nicole LePera: "Your nervous system is screaming at you!" Healing anxiety and panic

Nicole LePera: "Your nervous system is screaming at you!" Healing anxiety and panic

Were you praised as a child for being ‘good’, for keeping quiet, or not making a fuss? Psychologist Dr Nicole LePera reckons that praise may have taught you to disconnect from your emotions entirely.I...

4 Touko 1h 17min

Book Club Meets: Rekindling intimacy in marriage, with Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees

Book Club Meets: Rekindling intimacy in marriage, with Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees

Adam and Jules have been married for 25 years and are stuck in a bit of a rut. Adam stumbles across some old mixtapes he and Jules made for each other when they were young and falling in love, and whe...

30 Huhti 39min

Suosittua kategoriassa Yhteiskunta

olipa-kerran-otsikko
seitseman
sita
kaksi-aitia
siita-on-vaikea-puhua
ihme-ja-kumma
hupiklubi
i-dont-like-mondays
uutiscast
poks
antin-palautepalvelu
kolme-kaannekohtaa
rss-murhan-anatomia
mamma-mia
yopuolen-tarinoita-2
gogin-ja-janin-maailmanhistoria
rss-palmujen-varjoissa
meidan-pitais-puhua
kummitusjuttuja
aikalisa