Rose Rowkins - starttheconversation.uk

Greetings! 👋 With 7 years experience of 'working in suicide prevention', I've put together this (long overdue!) break-down of what that actually means - for me at least. It's not easy work, but my goodness it's truly rewarding, especially when we witness how our training empowers participants to get fearless and to have confident, compassionate, life-saving conversations with their colleagues, clients, loved ones, even strangers. There is, quite simply, nothing else I can imagine doing right now. Curious to know more? You know where I am! (all links in bio) Rose 🌹 #lovewhatyoudo #suicideprevention #suicideawareness #suicidepreventiontraining #toolsforthetoughstuff #selfharm #activelistening #neurodiversity #bereavement #facilitation #training #freelance

And now for something completely different. I’ve done a bunch of stuff this week (you can imagine, it’s a busy one in this corner of the world) But one of the best bits was this session on Wednesday lunchtime, with tradespeople and leaders from @balfourbeatty (Email in image shared with full permission, of course.) This is “completely different” for me because *typically*, our suicide prevention training is booked by charities, law firms and chambers, healthcare and housing providers, schools, prisons… … and occasionally big corporates who have actually realised that “whoa… suicide COULD happen here, and we need to do something to prevent that.” But construction workers are FOUR TIMES more likely to die by suicide than people in any other industry. Two tradespeople take their own lives EVERY DAY in the UK. So getting “a foot in the door” with the construction industry feels SO DAMN IMPORTANT. Huge thanks to everyone who sees the need, understands the value, and who is backing my work and opening doors. Your support never goes unnoticed or unappreciated 🙏🏼 @constructing_culture @the_talking_tradesman @talkclubcharity @sam_thomas_dh Image description: a group of smiling people, many in high vis jackets. An overlaid screenshot of an email reads: Hi Rose Once again, on behalf of the project team, thank you so much for attending site today. Your talk on suicide prevention & myths associated with the subject was excellent, thought-provoking and engaging. It was an excellent session and supported our mental health awareness week across the project. David Macdonald Senior HSW Advisor @balfourbeatty

This is one of the most important conversations I’ve ever had. And honestly… I think it has the potential to save lives. This week on the podcast I sat down with the incredible Rose Rowkins to talk about suicide prevention, emotional literacy, masculinity, parenting, hope and the power of human connection. And one line from the conversation really landed: 👉 “Most people don’t want to die… they want the pain to end.” That distinction matters. As many of you know, this mission is deeply personal to me. There have been moments in my own life where I felt completely lost. Moments where I measured my worth through money, status, business success and achievement. Moments where I isolated myself. Moments where I genuinely believed everyone else had life figured out except me. And through this journey… through the podcast… through the You Alright Mate? movement… through conversations like this… I’ve realised how many people are carrying pain silently. Especially men. We’ve created a world where people often feel safer hiding their pain than speaking about it. That has to change. One of the biggest things I took away from Rose’s work and the ASIST training she delivers is this: 👉 Suicide prevention does not belong solely to professionals. It belongs to all of us. The way we listen. The way we check in. The way we ask questions. The way we create safe spaces for honesty. The way we remind people they matter. These things save lives. This conversation reminded me again that sometimes hope starts with one person simply saying: 👉 “Are you really alright?” If someone came to mind while reading this… Don’t wait. Reach out ❤️ Comment ‘HOPE’ below and I’ll send you the link 🔗 to the episode directly Thank you again Rose, for this conversation and for all the amazing work you do 🙏 That is genuinely saving lives ❤️

Hey! 👋 it’s been a while since I jumped on and did one of these so here’s me talking about two public events I’ve got coming up TAS:10 Talking about Suicide: 10 Tools Thurs 14 May 10am-11:30am I created this with @annfeloy from @ollys.future in honour of her son Oliver The Entrepreneur Breakfast: the Honest Conversation from @collectiveconceptsaccounting with @msjessrad and @hansaraja1 Tues 19 May 9:30am-11am @ @platf9rm Brighton /e/1985573248035 Links in bio too! #suicideprevention #starttheconversation #Mentalhealthawarenessweek

“How can I help someone build reasons for living?” In this video are just 49 seconds of my thoughts. In essence, in my experience, first we have to hear someone’s reasons for dying. This is so much easier said than done, of course - but I believe we can all learn to do this. To witness someone’s pain. To accept their current reality. What are your thoughts? And - if you have thoughts on this - perhaps you’re ready to talk about how leaders and colleagues in *your* organisation can get more comfortable talking about suicide. Shall we talk? Message me or book a time to talk through my website 👉 Ah yes, and I keep forgetting to say (to the horror of every coach and mentor I’ve ever worked with) that I also send out a monthly email called The Lighthouse. You can sign up via my website. #suicideprevention #suicidepreventiontraining

How have we created a world where people feel safer hiding their pain than speaking about it? This was one of the questions that me and the inspirational and amazing Rose Rowkins explored on the podcast we recorded this week. (Episode coming soon) 👉 Why do we choose to suffer in silence instead of speaking about it? 👉 What stops us from reaching out when we are struggling? 👉 Why do we avoid checking in, and avoid an awkward conversation? I know when I have struggled in the past, I told myself I didn’t want to be a burden 😞 There is still for some crazy reason, so much shame around asking for help.. When the truth is, it is the bravest, most courageous thing you can do. However despite preaching this and knowing how important it is, I have still listened to old narratives at points lately, Withdrawn when I should reach out, Isolate myself when I should be around people, It is still a working progress to unlock years of learned behaviour, but we must keep trying.. Trying to break stigmas and change that narrative. I share some of my thoughts on this weeks episode of The Journal and the importance of checking in, and how having that awkward conversation might actually save someone’s life. So please don’t wait, 📲 Send that text message now, 📞 Pick up the phone and just ask.... You Alright Mate? Comment ‘JOURNAL’ below and I’ll send you a link to the episode directly. #YouAlrightMate? #StartTheConversation #CheckinChallenge

Short version: I don’t know who needs to see this image today, but if it’s you, I’m glad you’ve seen it ❤️ Long version, with backstory: The night someone first showed me this, it blew my tiny mind. I mean, first off, who doesn’t love a Venn diagram? But also, just LOOK at it! I imagine you’ve seen it before, but it’s so worth a revisit, no? “Ikigai” is a Japanese concept translating to “a reason for being”. There is so much in this that makes sense to me. To set the scene (at the risk of sounding like a total w*nker), the first time I saw this image: I was in my early 30s (way back when), transitioning from youth work to be a counsellor & suicide prevention trainer And I was heartbroken I was broken all over, actually I was a mess I’d fled to a yoga retreat on a tiny Thai island for 2 or 3 weeks to “sort my life out” (see, told you: w*nker) And then over dinner, one of the folks on the retreat, an old Dutch guy whose name I have shamefully forgotten, nonchalantly scribbled this Venn diagram of “ikigai” on a napkin for me, mid conversation. I lost myself in it for what felt like hours. And I return to it regularly, to check that teaching people to talk about suicide (aka “suicide prevention training”) is still the right path for me. I ask myself, is this… ❤️ What I LOVE? Absolutely. It is challenging and emotional and it drains me, but I love educating + empowering people with (literally) life-saving skills (and I’m better at loving myself now and taking proper breaks.) 🙌🏼 What I am GOOD at? I couldn’t say this back then but I can say it now with my hand on my heart and (almost) without cringing: Yes. I am damn good at what I do. 🌍 What the world NEEDS? 100%. Too many people continue to die by suicide, needlessly, and too many people don’t know how they can be a part of changing that, by learning to increase their skills and confidence. 💰 What I can get PAID for? Well, yes, just about, although let’s face it, there are far easier ways to make money 😂 I make enough to live, and that is enough. What do you think of this image? What is your reason to get up in the morning? #suicideprevention #ikigai #lovewhatyoudo

I didn't really know anything about suicide prevention until after I lost my 27 year old cousin to suicide. And then I became obsessed. Read articles, took courses, had conversations. That's how I know that... The GOLD standard in suicide prevention training is the ASIST course. Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. Brighton and Hove has one of the highest rates in the UK for women and girls dying from suicide. A well timed conversation has the potential to save a life. Q. Do you have the confidence and courage to ASK THE QUESTION 'Are you thinking about suicide?' and be comfortable with what to do next if the response is yes? There's **4 places left** for the next one in Brighton, taking place on 25th and 26th March. At Projects, Nile Street in the beautiful Globe room. The link to book is in my bio. This isn't even my course. However I'm promoting it because the best known intervention to reduce the number of people dying from suicide is...a conversation. Many of us don't start that conversation because it feel uncomfortable or awkward and we don't know what to say or how to say it. EVERYONE benefits from doing suicide prevention training because it equips you to... ✅ start and have uncomfortable conversations ✅ listen without judgement, interruption or advice ✅ trust your gut when something feels off about someone's behaviour or patterns Which applies to EVERYDAY life and crisis situations. If you work with... ➡️ women and girls under the age of 24 ➡️ women over the age of 45 ➡️ people affected by domestic abuse ➡️ people who've experienced sexual abuse ➡️ men and boys under 25 or men over 45 ➡️ people with autism ➡️ LGBTQIA+ people Please, please, please do some suicide prevention training. Contact Rose at @start_the_conv Or click the link in my bio. Thank you!🙏🏽 #starttheconversation #suicidepreventionawareness #suicidepreventiontraining #brightongirlawards #resetandrediscover

Just dropping this here for my Brighton folks Just 8 places left! Brighton and Hove has one of the highest suicide rates in the UK - and is the highest for women and girls. This training makes our communities safer from suicide by teaching you how to have life saving conversations. Booking link #suicidepreventiontraining

So proud to have delivered our training - Talking about Suicide: 10 Tools (TAS:10) - to 53 people from the @calmzone HQ And to have received feedback like this! 🙌🏼 TAS:10 was created by @annfeloy of @ollys.future in memory of her son, and Rose Rowkins @start_the_conv Anyone can learn to talk about suicide, and have pro-active, preventative life-saving conversations. Do you need #suicideprevention training for YOUR team? Let’s talk. To try-before-you-buy, join one of our open sessions Next dates 🗓️ Monday 16 March 12:30pm-2pm 🗓️ Thursday 14 May 10am-11:30am Suicide is everyone’s business.

📣 Hello #Brighton ! Here are three (damn good, if you ask me) reasons why you should attend the two-day Suicide Intervention workshop I am delivering (alongside the legend that is Nick Brown) at Projects on Wed 25 + Thu 26 March. 1️⃣ We NEED to talk about suicide. Brighton and Hove has one of the highest rates of suicide of #women and girls in the whole of the UK (and overall rates are 1.5 x higher than the England average) And let’s be clear: the skills learned on ASIST workshop are just as useful in our PERSONAL lives, as in our PROFESSIONAL lives. Just ask @sam_thomas_dh @fatblackfeminist @thewomen_hood @charlottericca @asispatel ... 2️⃣ ASIST isn’t an easy two days, but (oh boy) it is SO WORTH IT. Expect to be challenged. Expect to be changed. 3️⃣ Given the impact this workshop makes, it would be a TRAGEDY to have empty seats. So I’m putting it out to the universe ✨ and offering all remaining places on a pay-what-you-can basis. Use the code [pwyc] to unlock options. (+ also, this is *probably* the LAST public ASIST I will be running in Brighton this year. I’ll have a date in #London in September though, so DM me if interested in that) Wed 25 + Thur 26 March 9am - 5pm both days @ @projectsbtn Save your spot here 👉 And please share-share-share away, *especially* with any connections who work with: 💥 Any team or community (community leaders, managers, co-working spaces...) 💥 The public (bartenders, tattoo artists, hotel staff, personal trainers...) 💥 Young people (youth workers, teaching assistants, school DSLs...) ASIST is for anyone, because suicide is EVERYONE’S business. Got questions? You know where I am. 🌹 #suicideprevention #suicidepreventiontraining starttheconversation

Clearly not recorded today (hooray for sun! ☀️) but I’ve just got around to editing this little vid on SIGNPOSTING … Which can be done SO MUCH MORE MEANINGFULLY (and safely) with a little care and consideration. I hope this helps someone 🙏🏼 To be clear: if you know someone is thinking of suicide, it is NEVER the deal that you hold that information confidentially. It’s not fair on them, or you. Instead, with consent and working collaboratively (and using “active” signposting) help them connect to others who can help. Want to know more? We have ASIST workshops in March in #Worcester #Manchester and #Brighton And our next TAS:10 Zoom sesh on Monday 16 March 12:30pm-2pm /trainingforall #suicideprevention #suicidepreventiontraining