How my loss became a lifeline for thousands

Ben West is now in his mid-twenties and looks back on his early childhood as ‘ideal’, having grown up in a close-knit family in rural England and often playing outside with his two younger brothers. Life was full of adventure and fun. At 17, Ben had his future as a helicopter pilot all planned out, but everything changed when he lost his brother Sam to suicide that same year. This episode is about the circumstances of that pivotal event and Ben’s remarkable response to it over the eight years since – raising awareness about young men’s mental health, changing national policy, and creating Reasons to Stay.

Reasons to Stay is a suicide prevention project based around a website where strangers submit letters of support, written for anyone struggling with their mental health. The letters are checked by clinical professionals. Since its launch in January 2026, Ben says over 4 million letters have been ‘delivered’, read by users all over the world.

Ben has faced his own challenges, working through anger, guilt and shame, in the aftermath of Sam’s death. He's found positivity in being able to share his brother's story to help others feel less alone and access treatment, and believes Sam would have loved nothing more.

If you are suffering distress or despair and need support, you could speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support. Details of help available in many countries can be found at Befrienders Worldwide. Www.befrienders.org

Presenter: Asya Fouks
Producer: Emily Naylor

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: Ben running the London Marathon looking visibly emotional with red eyes. He is smiling at the camera while gripping a flag which he is holding in front of him. The middle of the flag says Reasons to Stay and around it are thousands of names printed in a tiny font. Ben is wearing a cap backwards and grey T-Shirt with his name and Reasons to Stay on. Behind Ben are other runners and supporters. It is a cloudy day with some blue skies and you can see some trees as well as the London Eye in the background. Courtesy of Ben West.)