Acknowledging Pain is Key To Mental Health Breakthrough | Jen Rowe

What if the most powerful act you could take today was to simply be kind—with your words, your presence, and your willingness to sit with pain?

In this profound and moving episode, Jen Rowe shares the heartbreaking loss of her son, Ky, to suicide—and how she is now channelling her grief into a movement that’s saving lives through the power of kind words, courageous conversations, and the healing act of simply showing up.

Jen reminds us that it’s not the pain that causes the most damage—it’s the silence. And when we learn to hold space instead of fixing, when we can ask “How did that make you feel?” instead of offering solutions, we can help the next generation (and ourselves) navigate life in a healthier, more connected way.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why kindness isn't soft—it’s radical, healing, and essential.
• How to support someone who is grieving—even when you don’t know what to say.
• The danger of surface-level “how are yous” and how to ask better questions.
• How creating safe, judgment-free spaces for young people can change lives.
• The link between bullying, silence, and mental health—and what we can do about it.
• Why sitting with someone’s pain is often more powerful than trying to fix it.
• The story behind KY-ND, a kindness-led movement born from personal tragedy.

“We have pains, have tragedies through our life, we have experiences that knock us. And it's not easy to talk about it because we try to make it better without actually sitting in it" – Jen Rowe

Resources & Next Steps:

• 🌐 Learn more about KY-ND: www.ky-nd.co.za
• 👕 Support the movement: Purchase apparel to spark conversations and fund support for youth mental health.
• 🤲 Practice This: Next time someone is struggling, resist the urge to fix. Ask instead: “How did that make you feel?” Then just listen.
• 📚 Recommended Reading: Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett

This episode is a gift to anyone who wants to lead with heart, connect more deeply with others, and create a world where no one feels alone in their pain. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, friend, or simply someone who cares—Jen’s story will open your eyes and soften your heart.

Produced in partnership with http://www.podlad.com