Is Someone You Love Suffering in Silence? Here's What To Do | Gus Worland | TED

The Loss of a Mentor

In this section, the speaker talks about their mentor and how they received news of his death.

Remembering Angus

• Angus was the speaker's friend, mentor, and father figure who took care of them when their father left.

• Angus was always available to offer advice on dating and work-related issues.

• Angus was a popular person who had many people seeking his help and support.

The Tragic News

• The speaker received a phone call informing them that Angus had died.

• Later in the same phone call, they learned that he had taken his own life.

• The speaker expresses frustration at not understanding why someone like Angus would take their own life.

Being Vulnerable on Radio

In this section, the speaker talks about his experience of being vulnerable on a radio show and how it led to a beautiful conversation with listeners.

Sharing Personal Story

• The speaker had been on a radio show for 11 years but had never spoken much about himself.

• One morning, he decided to be vulnerable and talk about something that had been eating away at him.

• He got support from his co-hosts and decided to share his story just after the 8 o'clock news.

Positive Response from Listeners

• As the speaker was telling his story, all the phone lines into the radio station were flashing with people phoning in.

• People were thanking him for sharing his story and more importantly, they felt like they had been given permission to talk about their own personal issues.

Beautiful Conversation with Listeners

• For the next 90 minutes, there was no traffic reports or music played. Instead, there was a beautiful conversation between listeners and the radio hosts where people talked about things that were truly important to them.

The Importance of Listening to Silence

In this section, the speaker talks about how silence can reveal a lot about a person's emotions and how important it is to listen to them.

Listening to Silence

• When there is silence, you can hear tears gathering or snot running out of the nose, which indicates that people are being real.

• Opening up and sharing stories can help people realize they are not alone in their struggles.

• The speaker committed himself to being more honest and vulnerable after experiencing the power of opening up.

• Celebrating difficult moments with loved ones is just as important as celebrating happy moments.

Suicide Prevention: A Global Issue

In this section, the speaker discusses suicide prevention and its global impact.

Suicide Prevention Statistics

• In Australia, seven men and two women die by suicide every day.

• 65,000 Australians attempt suicide each year.

• Globally, over 1,900 people take their own lives each day while 38,000 attempt suicide daily.

Making a Difference: Starting Small

In this section, the speaker encourages listeners to make a difference in their communities by starting small.

Taking Action

• Making a difference doesn't have to be on a global scale; start by looking after your own village.

• People who attempt suicide often don't actually want to die but are tired and in pain.

• By getting help before reaching that point of desperation, we can prevent suicide.

The Power of Love and Connection

In this section, the speaker emphasizes the importance of love and connection in preventing suicide.

Connecting with Loved Ones

• The speaker asks listeners to think of someone they love and cannot imagine living without.

• By connecting with loved ones and creating a support system, we can help prevent suicide.

Connecting with Loved Ones

In this section, the speaker encourages the audience to connect with their loved ones by sending them a text message.

Sending a Text Message

• The speaker asks the audience to send a text message to someone they love.

• The text message should say "I love you. I miss you. See you soon. Kiss hug, kiss hug."

• The speaker encourages the audience to send the text message and report back to him when they receive a response.

Importance of Connection

• The speaker emphasizes that connection is important and urges the audience to prioritize their loved ones over work.

• He shares his personal experience of losing someone he loves and highlights the importance of cherishing those relationships.

Overcoming Obstacles

• The speaker acknowledges that some people may be hesitant or skeptical about sending such a message, but suggests explaining that it was an exercise in mental fitness and an opportunity to express love and appreciation for someone important in their life.

Overall, this section emphasizes the importance of connecting with loved ones and provides a simple exercise for doing so.