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

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(475)

What if the universe is trying to tell you something? How to trust your intuition

What if the universe is trying to tell you something? How to trust your intuition

Do you ever feel like the universe is trying to tell you something? Call it spirituality, intuition, or science... we’ve all had moments that feel like a bit of a sign – a gentle nudge in a certain di...

7 Sep 48min

Monty Don: Get out of your bubble! Immerse yourself in a new culture on holiday

Monty Don: Get out of your bubble! Immerse yourself in a new culture on holiday

What does a truly restful holiday look like to you? Do you want novelty or routine? Horticulturalist Monty Don relaxes most when he knows the drill: same Greek island, same terrace for breakfast, same...

3 Sep 44min

“I did things I’d never do sober” Consent concerns and social anxiety, with Millie Gooch

“I did things I’d never do sober” Consent concerns and social anxiety, with Millie Gooch

How do you feel the morning after drinking the night before? For Millie Gooch the hangxiety was huge, so she stopped drinking and founded Sober Girl Society.In this chat, Fearne and Millie explore how...

31 Aug 1h

Book Club Meets: Holiday romance and friendship in your 40s, with Chloe Ashby

Book Club Meets: Holiday romance and friendship in your 40s, with Chloe Ashby

For 20 years Maggie and Will have spent idyllic summers in the south of France with their friends Lydia and Roland. This year though, tension is brewing and loyalties are being tested. Their young kid...

27 Aug 35min

Joe Lycett: "Nerves and excitement are the same!" How to reframe anxiety

Joe Lycett: "Nerves and excitement are the same!" How to reframe anxiety

Do you find yourself cringing at your younger self? Did you lose yourself in the early part of parenthood? Do you wonder if who you’re being is who you really are? It’s check, check, and check for com...

24 Aug 55min

“Wear the OTT dress!” Fearne’s got wardrobe and dating advice

“Wear the OTT dress!” Fearne’s got wardrobe and dating advice

What’s been going on for you this week? What are you happy about, and what’s making you not so happy? Fearne’s here with more chat about what’s putting her, Team Happy Place team, and you lot in a goo...

20 Aug 13min

My OCD gave me existential dread! Finding meaning in difficult times, with poet & actor Lucas Jones

My OCD gave me existential dread! Finding meaning in difficult times, with poet & actor Lucas Jones

We’re all looking for meaning in life in our own way. Poet and actor Lucas Jones reckons it doesn’t really matter whether we call it God, The Universe, spirituality, or science, we all want to believe...

17 Aug 1h 1min

Chris McCausland: “Dependence is exhausting!” Holidaying with a disability

Chris McCausland: “Dependence is exhausting!” Holidaying with a disability

What ratio of planned activities to spontaneity do you love when you travel? Comedian Chris McCausland has to know some top tier activities have been booked ahead of time.Welcome to The Happy Place Gu...

13 Aug 42min

Populært innen Samfunn

rss-spartsklubben
giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
konspirasjonspodden
aftenpodden-usa
popradet
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
rss-henlagt-andy-larsgaard
rss-espen-lee-usensurert
wolfgang-wee-uncut
grenselos
min-barneoppdragelse
synnve-og-vanessa
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
alt-fortalt
frokostshowet-pa-p5
fladseth
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
rss-siktet
opptur-med-annette-og-ingeborg