Caroline is a best-selling author, speaker and advocate transforming how we talk about suicide, grief and healing. After losing her husband to suicide in 2018, she turned personal tragedy into a mission rooted in hope, honesty and humanity.
Through her book Daddy Blackbird, she shares life-saving messages that create space for honest, healing conversations. A Strategic Communications and Wellbeing Specialist, and author of the British Standard’s First Steps Guide to Suicide and the Workplace, Caroline helps organisations build emotionally intelligent, human-centred cultures. A mother of two, she leads with empathy, courage and connection.
Her message is clear: how we speak saves lives.
You can get in touch with Caroline here:
Caroline's LinkedIn
www.daddyblackbird.com
Caroline's book is on Amazon (a must read for anyone interested in wellbeing and mental health)
Daddy Blackbird's LinkedIn
Link to: The British Standard's 30480 Suicide and the Workplace: A Practical First Steps Guide to Support
Summary
In this conversation, Caroline Roodhouse shares her journey from personal tragedy to becoming an advocate for mental health and suicide prevention in the workplace. She discusses the importance of creating empathetic work environments, the role of communication in supporting employees, and the need for organisations to proactively address mental health issues. Caroline emphasises the significance of acknowledgment, the impact of workplace culture on mental health, and the necessity of implementing strategies for prevention and postvention. She also highlights the importance of changing the language around suicide and providing practical support for those grieving a loss.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Caroline Roodhouse and Her Mission
02:47 The Impact of Workplace Culture on Mental Health
05:18 Creating a Supportive Work Environment
07:50 Empathy vs. Productivity in the Workplace
10:11 The Role of Acknowledgment in Employee Wellbeing
12:46 Bringing Your Whole Self to Work
14:18 Proactive Approaches to Suicide Prevention
17:12 The Importance of Leadership in Mental Health
19:49 Legislation and Duty of Care in Mental Health
22:15 Understanding Postvention and Its Importance
25:42 The Importance of Employee Well-being
28:58 Changing the Language Around Suicide
32:49 Supporting Grief and Loss
36:07 Reaching In: Practical Support for Those in Grief
38:05 The Value of Lived Experience in Business
40:21 Advice for Entrepreneurs with Lived Experience
42:47 Implementing Mental Health Standards in Organisations
If you need to speak to someone about the way you’re feeling, contact one of the services below or your local equivalent:
🤲 Find help local to you using the Hub of Hope from Chasing the Stigma
🤲 Call Samaritans on 116 123
🤲 Text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 from Shout UK
🤲 United for Global Mental Health is a global services and support finder
🤲 Attend a local #ANDYSMANCLUB group (there are nearly 300 free groups nationally)
🤲 The Jordan Legacy CIC offers excellent support and signposting
🤲 Explore the resources available from Campaign Against Living Miserably
🤲 Speak Their Name CIO is a space that helps people in the UK bereaved by suicide
🤲 Find peer-to-peer support through Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
🤲 Visit Suicide&Co for resources to help navigate suicide-related grief
About Dan
Dan Jacobs is a business builder, founder, and host of The Brilliant Business Podcast.
Dan believes that we can make the world a better place by helping small businesses succeed. He is the founder of Buybill, a platform designed to give small businesses access to big-business operational capability. You can follow Dan on LinkedIn for practical insights on building brilliant, sustainable businesses.
Music track: Rock Me Now by Pufino
Source: https://freetouse.com/music
