Edge Ahead

Suicide Prevention with Nina Smith and Three Dads Walking

This podcast discusses mental health, including topics surrounding depression and suicide. Please read the show notes for more information. Viewer discretion is advised. In this compelling episode, Chris and Gareth are joined by Edge Hill PhD student Nina Smith and Mike Palmer from the inspiring Three Dads Walking campaign. Nina shares how the tragic loss of her brother Will to suicide, just days before starting her Master’s in Mental Health, ignited her mission to prevent young people from ever reaching crisis point. “Suicide prevention is hope promotion,” Nina says, as she discusses the importance of upstream approaches that intervene early, before crisis hits. Awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship, she travelled to Australia and the US to explore global best practices in school-based suicide prevention, with her findings now shaping teacher training at Edge Hill. Mike Palmer, who lost his daughter Beth, speaks about the national movement started by three bereaved fathers to make suicide prevention part of the UK curriculum. Their petition has gathered over 160,000 signatures and raised over £1 million for PAPYRUS. This emotional and hopeful conversation explores the power of education, community, and early support in saving young lives.

From Selfie Addiction to Self-Acceptance with Danny Bowman

This podcast discusses mental health, including topics surrounding body dysmorphia. Please read the show notes for more information. This podcast may contain strong language. Viewer discretion is advised.In this candid episode, mental health campaigner Danny Bowman shares his personal story of developing a selfie addiction at age 14, taking hundreds of photos a day in search of perfection. His struggle with Body Dysmorphic Disorder led to isolation, dropping out of school, and a suicide attempt. Nowin recovery, Danny speaks openly about the darker side of social media, thepressure to seek online approval, and the urgent need for early mental health intervention. We also explore the work being done at Edge Hill University to support young people’s mental wellbeing, through groundbreaking research, social prescribing, and creative therapies like the £2.5m Arts4Us project. This is an honest, eye-opening conversation about digital culture, recovery, and why youth mental health must be a national priority. 45-minute interview recorded in the TV studio in Creative Edge, Edge Hill University on Tuesday, 8 July 2025.

From Crisis to Hope with Jake Mills

This podcast discusses mental health, including topics surrounding addiction, depression and suicide. Please read the show notes for more information. This podcast may contain strong language. Viewer discretion is advised. In this inspiring episode, Chris and Gareth hear from Jake Mills, founder of Chasing theStigma and creator of the Hub of Hope, the UK’s largest mental health support database. Jake shares his personal journey with depression and a suicide attempt, how his recovery led him to create a platform that now helps thousands find support, and why so many people still fall through the cracks. We also explore his workwith football clubs, Edge Hill University and his mission to turn awareness into action through practical tools like the Ambassador of Hope training. A powerful conversation about resilience, purpose, and breaking stigma—with a few lighter moments, including Jake’s love of comedy and Everton.45-minute interviewrecorded in the TV studio in Creative Edge, Edge Hill University on Wednesday 12March 2025.

Nature, Connection and The Power of Social Prescribing with Professor Michelle Howarth

In this episode, Chris and Gareth speak with Dr Michelle Howarth, a leading voice in social prescribing, onhow nature-based activities like walking, gardening, and community groups can transform mental health and wellbeing. From her journey in nursing to shaping national green social prescribing programmes, Michelle shares how moving beyond the “clinical gaze” can offer more human, effective support. We explore how this approach is already making a difference on Edge Hill’s campus with our ‘Dose of Nature Walks’ and through national partnerships like Barnardo’s. With real-world advice, powerful stories, and hope for change, this conversation is a reminder that sometimes, the best medicine is outside the clinic. 45-minute interview recorded in the TV studio in Creative Edge, Edge Hill University on Friday 30 May 2025.

Life after Suicide with Angela Samata

This podcast discusses mental health, including topics surrounding addiction, depression and suicide. Please read the show notes for more information. This podcast may contain strong language. Viewer discretion is advised. Chris and Gareth talk with Liverpool Woman of the Year and Ambassador for Survivors of the Bereaved by Suicide, Angela Samata, who shares her powerful lived experience following the loss of her husband Mark to suicide. In this deeply personal conversation, Angela reflects on her journey through grief, the importance of her support network, and why breaking the stigma around men’s mental health remains urgent. She discusses her Bafta nominated BBC documentary Life After Suicide—a project she felt compelled to make after years of encouraging others to speak out: “I had to put my money where my mouth is.” Passionate about creating change, Angela also co-authored the award- winning #SeeSaySignpost suicide prevention training, now accessed by over three million people worldwide. With honesty and hope, Angela explores how far we've come in talking about mental health—and the progress still needed to save more lives. 45-minute interview recorded in the TV studio in Creative Edge, Edge Hill University on Wednesday 5 March 2025.