Grief, trauma, burnout, self-medication, and stepping back from the brink, with David Eakins

David Eakins talks about how the impact of his Dad’s sudden death, followed shortly after by the incredibly traumatic circumstances surrounding the birth of his first child affected him, and how his poorly handled return to work took him to the very brink of suicide. He discusses the events that nearly cost him his life, the systemic failures he experienced in the workplace, and the moment that pulled him back from the edge. He reflects on the five years he spent hiding his pain with drugs and alcohol, and the turning point that got him to opening-up, and set him on the path he’s now on – transforming the way mental health is thought about and handled in the workplace.Here are the timestamps for each of the core questions we cover in the show: 0:00 Dan’s opener and overview 2:57 Introduction and why David decided to share his story9:29 How was your last week?13:24 How has your relationship with your mental health evolved? 53:58 What have been the lightbulb moments for you? 1:06:10 If someone facing a similar problem came to you today, what's the most important thing they can do? If you'd like to chat with David about his experiences, reach out to him via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-eakins-makingworkplacewellbeingmorehuman/ David also talked about Talk Club, more information on which can be found here: https://talkclub.org/ Get all the info you could possibly need about the show here: https://linktr.ee/goodenoughchats If you have been affected by some of the issues addressed in this conversation, please know that you are not alone and there are some fantastic places you can turn to for help, including (but by no means limited to): NHS, https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/ The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), https://www.thecalmzone.net/ Samaritans, https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ Mind, https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/where-to-start/