I had the privilege of sitting down with two remarkable individuals, Keir McKechnie and Seonaid Stallan, hailing all the way from Glasgow, Scotland. Their passion and dedication to integrating lived experience into suicide prevention efforts are truly inspiring. Keir’s journey into this field is deeply personal, rooted in a series of tragic suicides during his teenage years, which spurred him to become a psychiatric nurse and later a coordinator for Scotland's National Lived Experience Panel. Meanwhile, Seonaid, a primary teacher, turned her personal grief from losing her son and sister-in-law to suicide into a force for change, using her voice and experiences to advocate for better mental health education and support systems.
Empowerment Matters: How Understanding Personal Agency Can Transform Suicide Prevention with Luke Bayliss | Ep. 138
I had the pleasure of speaking with Luke Bayliss, a researcher from Australia who is doing fascinating work around the concept of agency in suicide prevention. Our conversation challenged the traditional approach of restricting choices and instead explored how expanding options and empowering individuals might be more effective. Luke's research, which started as an open-ended exploration of suicide attempt survivors' stories, revealed something profound about personal agency and decision-making in the pathway to suicide attempts.
Perfectly Hidden Depression | Interview with Dr. Margaret Rutherford | Episode 131
I had the absolute pleasure of talking with the inspiring Dr. Margaret Rutherford. Let me tell you, Dr. Margaret’s journey is nothing short of transformative. She opened up about the pressures we put on ourselves to be perfect and how embracing both strengths and weaknesses is the key to self-acceptance. We had a fantastic discussion about the beautifully imperfect stories that connect us more deeply than any facade of perfection ever could. Margaret’s decision to share her personal struggles on social media was initially terrifying, but she found an overwhelming wave of support that made it all worth it.
From Service to Civilian: Addressing Mental Health Stigma and Veteran Suicide with Rachel Oswalt | 131
Veterans suicide death and military mental health has been making headlines for decades, on today’s episode we look at the root causes. I am joined by Rachel Oswalt, an inspiring US Navy veteran and mental wellness advocate. Rachel discusses the critical role of connecting with supportive individuals throughout her life's journey, particularly in navigating the labyrinth of military mental health. We explored some of the pressing issues plaguing military communities, from the devastating rates of veteran suicides to the overshadowing stigma that hinders mental health reporting.
Suicide Risk among Healthcare Workers with Christopher Wojnar | 130
In this episode of Hope Illuminated, nurse Christopher Wojnar shares his journey through mental health challenges, resilience, and the importance of workplace peer support in suicide prevention. Gain insights into nursing well-being and the transformative power of storytelling in mental health advocacy.