LOSS OF A PARENT SERIES EP#2 - SUICIDE with Shaylan Ketchen

Welcome to episode two of our 'Loss of a Parent' series. In this episode, we speak with Shaylan, a business owner, wife, and mum of three children, who lost her mum to suicide when she was just 17 years old.

Shaylan shares with us the devastating loss, the shock, and what she remembers from that night. Despite having different circumstances, we asked each guest the same questions to gain insight into their unique experiences.

As an only child, Shaylan had to step up and grow up instantly, moving into a role of cooking and cleaning as a year 12 student. We talk about how this traumatic, life-altering event affected her personal life, and the path she took in work and study. 

Shaylan also opens up about how it affected her parenting and the little moments of grief and pain that are sprinkled throughout everyday life, living without her mum.

In this episode, Shaylan and I connect on a personal level because we both have lost a parent to suicide. We speak about the stigma, shame, and constantly living with the eternal "what ifs." We share our experiences of coping with the aftermath of such a traumatic event and how it has shaped our lives.

**Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of suicide. Listener discretion is advised. For helpful links and resources, please refer to the show notes.**

RESOURCES:
LIFELINE: https://www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/i-m-feeling-suicidal/?gclid=CjwKCAjw586hBhBrEiwAQYEnHVm5jIl4g8E8EKDDxDHQ2H1jcA--rbLNKwKgncgRt8tWvNVVBvOmrRoCHYoQAvD_BwE
BEYOND BLUE:  https://www.beyondblue.org.au/mental-health/suicide-prevention
SUICIDE CALL BACK SERVICE: https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/