#20: Shane Kelton, breaking taboos and talking about suicide

Content warning: In this episode we discuss the topic of suicide and mental illness. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek professional support. If you are in Australia, you can call LifeLine 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636. Shane Kelton is an author, speaker, podcaster, personal trainer, husband, and parent of 2 boys. He recently published his book “I didn't want to die, I just wanted the pain to end” which shares his personal struggle with mental illness and suicidal tendencies throughout his teenage years and early adulthood. The book shares some helpful strategies and hopeful insights for others who are experiencing struggle and for those who are providing care to someone else. In this episode, Shane shares what is has been like to publish the book and to speak at various events, organisations, and schools. Megan and Shane discuss some of the misconceptions that can be held around talking about suicide and how ‘not talking about it' was one of the biggest risks to Shane's life. He shares that he hid his struggle from his friends and family, literally hiding from others in his tough moments, to then mask positivity in front of them. Shane now does the complete opposite, sharing his story and modelling vulnerability for others in a hope they don't go through what he went through. He shares that he is living his dream life, acknowledging there are still hard days, he just now has appropriate strategies and tools to work through it- including telling his support network when he hits a tough day! Megan and Shane discuss the ways in which approaches around parenting have changed and how important co-regulation and connection is. They also talk about how the school system hasn't changed enough for someone who may be experiencing struggle. You can find Shane's book here: https://powerstrengthvulnerability.com.au/book/ You can get in touch with Shane through his website: https://powerstrengthvulnerability.com.au/ or his Instagram: shane_kelton Host: Megan Corcoran, Wagtail Institute, https://wagtailinstitute.com/ Music by Kabbilistic Village https://kabbalisticvillage.com/