Edge Hill Podcast Tackles Suicide Prevention and Grief in Raw Discussion
In a powerful and timely episode of the Edge Ahead podcast, Edge Hill researcher Nina Smith and Mike Palmer from Three Dads Walking delve into the critical topic of suicide prevention. Released to coincide with Helplines Awareness Day on February 23, this conversation offers a raw and necessary exploration of grief, the "living experience" of loss, and how academic research is actively reshaping the UK's national curriculum.
Mike Palmer's Campaign for Change
Mike Palmer MBE, who tragically lost his daughter Beth to suicide in 2020, shared the driving philosophy behind his national campaigning efforts. Alongside fellow bereaved fathers Tim Owen and Andy Airey, Mike has walked hundreds of miles, raising millions for Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide and lobbying the government for curriculum reforms.
"I live in a world of grief, but I've learned to manage it through forgiveness, forgiving myself for having bad days," Mike said on the podcast. "What we do with 'Three Dads' is about making a difference. It's not 'lived experience,' it's living experience. We want happy, resilient young people who can thrive, and that starts with building a solid base of mental health."
Nina Smith's Research and Impact
Nina Smith, a former primary school teacher, was days away from starting her Masters in Mental Health at Edge Hill when her brother Will died by suicide. Instead of stepping back, she immersed herself in her studies, earning a Churchill Fellowship to research school-based suicide prevention strategies. Her research took her to Australia and the US, where she discovered that suicide prevention training has been mandatory for teachers for years.
"Suicide prevention is hope promotion. There are no 'wrong people' to talk to; there are just people who haven't had any training yet," Nina emphasized. "Everybody has the potential to save a life; they just need the tools."
Thanks largely to the Three Dads Walking campaign and voices like Nina's, the UK Government is now planning to add suicide prevention to the secondary school curriculum. Edge Hill University is already implementing Nina's findings, integrating mandatory suicide prevention training into its Ofsted 'outstanding' initial teacher training programmes and developing a new specialist PGCE in Primary Mental Health and Wellbeing Specialist with QTS.
Emphasis on Helplines and Support Services
On Helplines Awareness Day, both guests highlighted the vital role of professional support services. Mike pointed to the Papyrus HOPELINE247, a 24-hour service for individuals under 35 and those concerned about them, while Nina encouraged everyone to take the free, 30-minute training offered by the Zero Suicide Alliance.
"In those 15 minutes of crisis, a helpline can be the difference between a life lost and a life kept," Mike stated. "It is a knife-edge and having someone to call is the safety net our young people deserve."
Podcast Details and Availability
This episode marks the conclusion of the current series of Edge Ahead, which has featured notable guests such as former professional boxer Tony Bellew, Jake Mills from Chasing the Stigma, and former 'selfie addict' Danny Bowman. All episodes are available for streaming on platforms like Spotify and YouTube, inviting listeners from campus and beyond to join the conversation.
Edge Hill University also offers a dedicated student support service, providing comprehensive mental health and wellbeing advice alongside other forms of assistance.
