I'm one of the one in five adults in the UK who has experienced thoughts of suicide. But if so many of us are affected by suicide, why aren't we talking about it more?
This idea was the initial ...
I'm one of the one in five adults in the UK who has experienced thoughts of suicide. But if so many of us are affected by suicide, why aren't we talking about it more?
This idea was the initial spark that started Dark Coffee, and has recently inspired me to start my second podcast; Solving Suicide, where I'll be sharing insights, expertise and hot takes around suicidality to help zero the death rate.
I experienced chronic suicidal ideation (recurring suicidal thoughts and feelings) from the age of 19, which affected me massively throughout my twenties. So today, I wanted to discuss these experiences in a good amount of detail to give an inside view of what suicidality can feel like.
BIG, LOUD disclaimers apply here: if you are in emotional distress or feeling vulnerable, you may not want to listen since I will obviously be discussing suicidality in detail, including a brief discussion of the methods I considered.*
However… if you ARE feeling well enough to partake, I hope today’s podcast will be insightful, and maybe even comforting if you have felt suicidal in the past.
In this episode, I’ll be discussing:
my first-hand experiences with suicidal thoughts and feelings
what prompted these feelings – possible contributing factors – and how these thoughts manifested for me
how I found a surprising level of comfort in thoughts of suicide
some of the unhelpful methods I used to try and counteract my low mental health (including aimlessly driving across the UK)
…and how hitting a rock bottom moment following a breakdown helped me start to learn how to look after myself
Thank you for being here – it really helps to expand and normalise the conversation around suicide.
Catch you next time,
Alice
*To learn more about how to talk about suicide responsibly, have a read of The Samartian’s guide here:
COLLABORATORS
This episode is brought to you by Dark Coffee – development coaching to get your work and wellbeing working better together so you can feel like a badass in business.
Host: Alice Lyons from Dark Coffee
Podcast Editing: Steve Leggett
Mind Over Grind explores the intersection of work and wellbeing (for people who sometimes struggle with both!) hosted by coach, facilitator and speaker, Alice Lyons.
The podcast is brought to you by Dark Coffee who bring development coaching to SMEs, so that you and your team feel badass at work. To find out more, take a look at our website https://www.darkcoffee.co.uk/ or get in touch: talk@darkcoffee.co.uk
The conversation doesn’t stop here! Follow us on social media or join our mailing list for more insights, tips and advice to help you feel and perform at your best:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicelyons/
Instagram: @darkcoffeeco
Join our mailing list here.
If you’d like to speak with Alice about 1:1 coaching, book a free 20-minute coffee chat here so you can ask all your juicy questions!
RESOURCES
Suicide Support Organisations (UK)
Samaritans: Confidential suicide discussion and support. Free helpline available round the clock. Text - 116123. Call - 08457 909090 Email - jo@samaritans.org. Website - www.samaritans.org
Mind: Support and information for anyone suffering from a mental health problem. 0300 123 3393 Website - Mind.org.uk
Saneline: Practical information, crisis care and emotional support to people affected by mental health concerns. Helpline: 0845 767 8000, open daily from 6pm – 11pm.
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