Ben West: How I SURVIVED Losing My Brother, the Guilt & the Silence That Followed
On The Mend with Matt Willis
23,951 views
Mental health campaigner Ben West was 17 when his younger brother Sam took his own life. In a single night, everything changed.
Ben shares the guilt he carried afterwards, the conversations he wishes he'd known how to have, and how he eventually began to understand that he wasn't responsible for what happened.
He also explores how grief became purpose, from campaigning for better mental health education to creating Reasons to Stay, which has now shared millions of messages of hope around the world.
Together, Matt and Ben explore men's mental health, supporting someone who's struggling, and why sometimes connection matters more than having the right words.
Themes: Suicide & Bereavement, Grief & Guilt, Men's Mental Health, Purpose, and Connection.
Ben West's new book: 'Reasons to...: Letters of Hope from a World that Cares' is out in January 2027 and available to pre-order now: bit.ly/ReasonsToAMZ
Need Support?
Samaritans: Call 116 123 or visit samaritans.org
Narcotics Anonymous: na.org
Alcoholics Anonymous: alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Mental Health Mates: mentalhealthmates.co.uk
Shout: https: giveusashout.org
IAPT: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-hea...
Randox 👉 Head to the Randox Health website and check out the RanChip Insight 360 test. You can get a 10% discount by using the code OTM10 along with up to £250 cashback if you refer a friend https://highpfrmc.com/OTM-Randox-YT
00:00 Losing His Brother To Suicide At Seventeen
03:50 The Diagnosis That Changed His Family
06:11 Losing Sam And Searching For Purpose
09:44 Missing The Signs Of Depression
12:00 The Guilt Of Not Doing Enough
16:29 The Night Everything Changed Forever
20:27 Blue Lights, Shock And Complete Numbness
24:18 The Devastating Aftermath Of Suicide
26:11 Protecting His Younger Brother Through Grief
29:07 Learning How To Cope With Trauma
31:01 What To Say When Someone Struggles
33:03 Why Connection Matters More Than Advice
34:43 The Support Ben Needed But Never Got
35:48 Anger, Shame And Three Years Of Guilt
38:36 Blaming Himself For His Brother's Death
40:39 Learning That The Guilt Wasn't His
41:08 Hating Himself And Searching For Redemption
43:29 Living With Suicide Every Single Day
46:36 Turning Personal Trauma Into Action
48:18 Changing Mental Health Education In Schools
50:07 Why Connection Can Save Someone
51:08 Reasons To Stay Following Grief
53:12 The Letters Saying “You Saved Me”
58:12 Finding Joy In Suicide Prevention
18 Comments
across the UK if not the world..
This young man is AMAZING ... and Matt you are so fabulous at being there for all your guests.. Thank you ❤
Matt, On the Mend is fantastic, I absolutely love how you let your guests talk, and are genuinely interested in what they have to say.x
Never heard of this website before but im going to go & write a letter
Things do get better ❤❤❤❤
So powerful and so important! Thank you for being strong enough and brave enough to create such an important project!
Ben West: How I SURVIVED Losing My Brother, the Guilt & the Silence That Followed
On The Mend with Matt Willis
23,951 views
Mental health campaigner Ben West was 17 when his younger brother Sam took his own life. In a single night, everything changed.
Ben shares the guilt he carried afterwards, the conversations he wishes he'd known how to have, and how he eventually began to understand that he wasn't responsible for what happened.
He also explores how grief became purpose, from campaigning for better mental health education to creating Reasons to Stay, which has now shared millions of messages of hope around the world.
Together, Matt and Ben explore men's mental health, supporting someone who's struggling, and why sometimes connection matters more than having the right words.
Themes: Suicide & Bereavement, Grief & Guilt, Men's Mental Health, Purpose, and Connection.
Ben West's new book: 'Reasons to...: Letters of Hope from a World that Cares' is out in January 2027 and available to pre-order now: bit.ly/ReasonsToAMZ
Need Support?
Samaritans: Call 116 123 or visit samaritans.org
Narcotics Anonymous: na.org
Alcoholics Anonymous: alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Mental Health Mates: mentalhealthmates.co.uk
Shout: https: giveusashout.org
IAPT: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-hea...
Randox 👉 Head to the Randox Health website and check out the RanChip Insight 360 test. You can get a 10% discount by using the code OTM10 along with up to £250 cashback if you refer a friend https://highpfrmc.com/OTM-Randox-YT
00:00 Losing His Brother To Suicide At Seventeen
03:50 The Diagnosis That Changed His Family
06:11 Losing Sam And Searching For Purpose
09:44 Missing The Signs Of Depression
12:00 The Guilt Of Not Doing Enough
16:29 The Night Everything Changed Forever
20:27 Blue Lights, Shock And Complete Numbness
24:18 The Devastating Aftermath Of Suicide
26:11 Protecting His Younger Brother Through Grief
29:07 Learning How To Cope With Trauma
31:01 What To Say When Someone Struggles
33:03 Why Connection Matters More Than Advice
34:43 The Support Ben Needed But Never Got
35:48 Anger, Shame And Three Years Of Guilt
38:36 Blaming Himself For His Brother's Death
40:39 Learning That The Guilt Wasn't His
41:08 Hating Himself And Searching For Redemption
43:29 Living With Suicide Every Single Day
46:36 Turning Personal Trauma Into Action
48:18 Changing Mental Health Education In Schools
50:07 Why Connection Can Save Someone
51:08 Reasons To Stay Following Grief
53:12 The Letters Saying “You Saved Me”
58:12 Finding Joy In Suicide Prevention