Building Your Village: A Conversation with Gus Worland on Mental Fitness and Saving Lives

In this powerful two-part conversation, Dr. Jodi Richardson sits down with Gus Worland, co-founder of Gotcha4Life and mental health advocate, to discuss the urgent need for open conversations about suicide prevention and mental fitness in Australia.

After losing his dear friend and mentor to suicide, Gus dedicated his life to reducing Australian suicide deaths to zero. In this episode, he shares the shocking statistics—someone attempts to take their life every eight minutes in Australia—and explains why we must move from "man up and shut up" to "human up and speak up."

Gus discusses:

The importance of building your "village" before you need it
Why we need to make mental health about prevention, not just crisis
How one vulnerable conversation on breakfast radio sparked a movement
Practical ways parents can create space for honest conversations with their kids
Why saying "I don't know" can be the most powerful thing a parent does
The free Gotcha4Life mental fitness app and how it helps build emotional muscle

This conversation is filled with hope, practical advice, and a reminder that asking for help is the bravest thing you can do. Whether you're struggling yourself or want to be there for someone who is, this episode offers actionable steps to create genuine connections and save lives.

Resources mentioned:

Lifeline: 13 11 14
Gotcha4Life Mental Fitness App (free download, no signup required)
Gus Worland's TEDx talk (now available in 12 languages)

Content warning: This episode discusses suicide. Please take care when listening.

Connect with Dr Jodi Richardson:

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