Hormones and mental health: Ben West discusses how having hard conversations can save lives

Content advisory: this podcast contains themes of mental health and suicide ‘You're not just losing a person. You're losing all of those memories’ In this week’s episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by mental health campaigner and author, Ben West. At 17, Ben’s world was turned upside down when he lost his younger brother, Sam, to suicide at just 15 years old. What followed was a life-altering journey through grief, resilience, and purpose. Ben transformed personal tragedy into powerful advocacy – raising awareness around mental health, challenging stigma, and driving real change in how we support mental wellbeing, especially within the education system. Together they explore how hormones, medication, stress and lifestyle can all impact mental health, and why understanding these factors could change how we approach conversations around suicide and depression. Ben also completed an ultra-marathon to raise funds for Shout, a 24/7 text messaging service providing support for mental health and suicide prevention. To find out how you can volunteer or donate, visit their website here. Contact the Samaritans for 24-hour, confidential support by calling 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org 00:00 - Intro 02:30 - Ben's Story 10:31 - Mental health and hormones 20:21 - You are not the problem 28:53 - Take home tips To learn more about Ben West, visit his Instagram here and check out This Book Could Save Your Life, available here. If you would like to make a change to the way schools train their teachers on mental health issues, sign the petition here. We hope you're loving the new series! Share your thoughts with us on the feedback form here and if you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to leave a 5-star rating on your podcast platform. Email dlnpodcast@borkowski.co.uk with suggestions for new guests! Disclaimer The information provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dr Louise Newson or the Newson Health Group. LET'S CONNECT Website 👉 https://www.drlouisenewson.co.uk/ Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/drlouisenewsonpodcast/ LinkedIn 👉 / https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlouisenewson/?originalSubdomain=uk Spotify 👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/7dCctfyI9bODGDaFnjfKhg LEARN MORE Sign up to my Menopause Masterclass 👉 https://newson-health.teachable.com Sign up for my Confidence in Menopause Course 👉 https://newson-health.teachable.com/p/confidence-in-the-menopause