How to Help a Friend Who’s Suicidal | with Bradley Isbister
Arriving Monday 4th August @ 6:00pm (AWST)
What if saving a mate’s life didn’t mean having all the answers, just knowing how to show up?
In this episode, Paris sits down with Bradley Isbister, Suicide Prevention Coordinator at Neami National based in Perth, Western Australia and board member for Men’s Health & Wellbeing WA, to talk about how young people can support each other through mental health crises, especially when suicide is on the table.
Bradley shares the thinking behind Right By You, a suicide prevention program co-designed with young people, for young people. It’s all about giving teens and young adults the tools to recognise warning signs, speak up without freaking out, and take action when someone they care about is struggling, online or IRL.
Together, Paris and Bradley go through the Right By You website step by step, unpacking the key resources, how to use them, and what makes the platform such a game-changer for young people navigating tough conversations with their mates.
We unpack what real support looks like when a friend is doing it tough, why language matters, and how to break the silence without breaking trust. Plus, Paris asks the tough stuff: how to spot red flags, what to say (and what not to), and how to hold space without feeling completely overwhelmed.
What we cover:
How Bradley got involved in suicide prevention
What makes Right By You different and why it’s youth-led
Warning signs to look out for when someone might be at risk
What to say (and not say) when you’re worried about a friend
How to respond to troubling posts or messages online
Helping when the signs aren’t clear
Why early intervention matters, and how programs like this are shifting the conversation
A walkthrough of the Right By You website and how to use it
Advice for anyone scared to step in but knows they probably should
Whether you’re supporting a mate or going through it yourself, this ep will give you the tools to show up and speak up when it counts.
Want to check out the Right By You website?
Head to rightbyyou.org.au
