This week’s conversation honestly feels like one of the most important episodes I’ve ever recorded.

Being released during Mental Health Awareness Week, I recently sat down with the incredible Rose Rowkins for a raw, honest and deeply powerful conversation about suicide prevention, emotional literacy, masculinity, parenting, modern pressure, hope, and the importance of human connection.

Statistics still show that around 6,000–7,000 people die by suicide every year in the UK. Around 75% are men. Many never speak to a mental health professional before they die.

That has to change.

One of the biggest things I took away from the ASIST training Rose delivers is this:

👉 Suicide prevention does not belong solely to professionals.

It belongs to all of us.

This conversation explores how we’ve created a world where people often feel safer hiding their pain than speaking about it… and how we can all learn to better show up for each other when it matters most.

Rose shares her own lived experience with suicidal thoughts, the devastating loss that shaped her mission, and the life-changing lessons she’s learned through over a decade of suicide prevention work.

We talk about:

• Why people don’t want to die, they want the pain to end
• The power of simply listening without trying to fix
• Why emotional literacy needs to start in schools
• Modern masculinity and the pressure men carry silently
• Parenting, kindness and raising emotionally aware children
• The role community and belonging play in keeping people alive
• Redefining success beyond money, status and achievement
• Why awkward conversations can genuinely save lives
• 
  

And honestly… this episode reminded me again that hope often begins with one conversation.

If this episode helps even one person feel less alone, it’s worth it.

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 – Introduction: Why This Conversation Matters

02:13 – “You Alright Mate?” | Rose’s Honest Check-In

06:56 – Why Work Shouldn’t Become Your Identity

09:35 – Parenting, Kindness & Emotional Literacy

14:18 – How Rose Defines Success

16:30 – Leaving Corporate Life & Following Your Heart

25:59 – The Suicide That Changed Rose’s Life Forever

32:40 – What Samaritans Taught Rose About Suicide Prevention

35:45 – “People Don’t Want To Die — They Want The Pain To End”

41:02 – Rose Opens Up About Her Own Suicidal Thoughts

46:57 – Why We Must Stop Waiting For People To Reach Out

50:57 – Why Emotional Literacy Must Start In Schools

57:01 – Why Asking About Suicide Saves Lives

01:03:45 – Community, Belonging & Human Connection

01:11:27 – Are We Teaching Children How To Live?

01:20:01 – The Language That Can Save A Life

01:30:59 – Financial Pressure, Success & Suicide

01:40:48 – Why Talking About Death Helps Us Live

01:50:06 – What Gives Rose Hope

01:53:00 – A Message For Anyone Struggling Right Now

01:54:26 – Closing Reflections & Final Thoughts

⸻

🎧 LISTEN TO MORE DIFFERENT HATS EPISODES:

👉 https://www.different-hats.co.uk/podcast

🔗 Connect with Rose Rowkins: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roserowkins/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/start_the_conv/

Website: https://www.starttheconversation.uk/

💡 If this episode resonated with you, please like, share, and comment below. Your support helps us spread this important message and change the narrative around success, mental health and suicide prevention.

🚨 If you are struggling right now, please speak to someone.

UK Samaritans: Call 116 123 (24/7)

👉 Samaritans UK

SPONSORED BY:

Rivervale – https://www.rivervale.co.uk

Brown Bear Studios – https://www.brownbearstudio.co.uk

Carpenter Box – https://www.carpenterbox.com

🎬 PRODUCED BY:

H2 Productions – https://h2productions.co.uk/

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