Angela Samata became a widow at 32, after her partner Mark died by suicide. There were no warning signs that he was depressed or suicidal. After talking to him on the phone, Angela arrived home just 15 minutes later, opening the door to find he had taken his life. They were 15 minutes that turned Angela’s life upside down, and the life of their two young kids, transforming them into a family that had gone through one of the most seismic, extraordinary experiences. Having been the one to find Mark, Angela was also thrown immediately into a new lived experience with shock and trauma at its core.

Since then, Angela has produced a sensational documentary with the BBC on suicide, meeting communities of people affected by suicide. She’s also developed a vital training programme to support learning on suicide prevention; a short 20-minute guide on what to do if someone you know is feeling suicidal. All in the show notes on ofmountainsandminds.com. Please watch, share and pass on to whoever you can, especially those supporting people with depression or other mental illness.

Angela is infectiously passionate about many things. She’s a mental health campaigner, sharing her reality of suicide with the media, various committees and NGOs to bring about change. She’s also immersed in the art world, working with galleries such as Tate Liverpool. As if this wasn’t enough, she’s a star sourdough baker, check out her amazing creations on Instagram! As well as her own very personal experience of grief, trauma and learning, we got into a deep dive on the practice of quality listening; the learning that emerged from filming her BBC documentary; supporting children and young people to express their grief; and the need for more action and change around the issue of female suicide.