Life Changing

We said we’d never talk about it again


Listen Later

On the evening of Friday 29 November 2013, Michael Byrne was having a drink with a friend in a bar in Glasgow. They'd gone to see a band and had only been there for about an hour when suddenly it felt like everything had been shaken up – as if they were in snowglobe. Amid the chaos of falling debris Michael’s actions helping others were heroic, and afterwards to his wife and colleagues he seemed to be just fine. In the aftermath of this disaster he and his friend had agreed not to speak about what they’d been through in a misguided effort to ‘protect’ themselves. But Michael was struggling to cope and the more time that passed without talking about it, the worse things got for him.

Confronting the experience would bring back traumatic memories from his early life and push him to a place where he contemplated suicide. He was stopped by a chance event – and then began seriously to address his mental health.

Now Michael has founded an organisation called Lived Experience Trauma Support to provide mental health training and support services to businesses.

The tragedy in 2013 was caused by a police helicopter that crashed into the roof of the Clutha Vaults in Glasgow. It claimed the lives of the pilot, his two crew members and seven customers in the pub that night.

If you are looking for details of organisations offering information and support with mental health you can find them at bbc.co.uk/actionline. To get in touch with the programme, or to share your personal story, you can email us at: [email protected]

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Life ChangingBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

47 ratings


More shows like Life Changing

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,685 Listeners

The Archers by BBC Radio 4

The Archers

1,071 Listeners

The Archers Omnibus by BBC Radio 4

The Archers Omnibus

375 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,044 Listeners

Woman's Hour by BBC Radio 4

Woman's Hour

402 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,433 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,791 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,794 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,100 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,923 Listeners

Desert Island Discs by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs

2,083 Listeners

Lives Less Ordinary by BBC World Service

Lives Less Ordinary

601 Listeners

Saturday Live by BBC Radio 4

Saturday Live

36 Listeners

Ramblings by BBC Radio 4

Ramblings

166 Listeners

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day by Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

1,266 Listeners

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle by BBC World Service

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle

4,178 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,185 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

736 Listeners

The Mid•Point with Gabby Logan by Spiritland Creative

The Mid•Point with Gabby Logan

184 Listeners

Where Are You Going? by Loftus Media

Where Are You Going?

31 Listeners

Young Again by BBC Radio 4

Young Again

50 Listeners

Off Air with Jane & Fi by The Times

Off Air with Jane & Fi

173 Listeners

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth by Gyles Brandreth / Plain Jaine Media

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

502 Listeners

Strangers on a Bench by Tom Rosenthal

Strangers on a Bench

700 Listeners

What's Up Docs? by BBC Radio 4

What's Up Docs?

97 Listeners