Happy Place “The shame was intense!” How Ben West coped with his brother’s suicide
Jan 13, 2025
Ben West, a passionate mental health campaigner who lost his brother to suicide, shares impactful insights on navigating grief and mental health. He discusses recognizing signs of distress in loved ones and breaking the silence around tough topics. Ben highlights the inadequacies of the mental health system in the UK and the stigma surrounding these crucial conversations. He draws amusing parallels between choosing a therapist and dating, while emphasizing the importance of supportive dialogue and awareness to empower those struggling.
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Initiating Difficult Conversations
- Prepare what you've noticed about the person's behavior.
- Ask directly how they are, showing you care and are there for them.
Complexity of Grief
- Fern and Ben agree that grief is a messy mix of emotions, including numbness and humor.
- Ben emphasizes humor in his work because it makes the heavy topic of suicide more approachable.
Denial and Fluctuating Grief
- Ben went to school the morning after Sam's death, demonstrating denial.
- He experienced fluctuating numbness and overwhelming grief for weeks.
