TV and radio star Amy Irons to present new What if Podcast

Suicide Prevention Scotland is to launch a brand new podcast as part of our mission to have Scotland’s biggest ever conversation about suicide. 

The What if Podcast is presented by TV & radio star Amy Irons, who will be joined by some brilliant guests.

Key headlines:

• TV & radio presenter Amy Irons to front new Suicide Prevention Scotland podcast

• Amy lost her partner Wayne to suicide in 2018 

• She’s joined by a stellar group of guests who bring a range of deeply personal experiences

• They include former Scotland striker Kris Boyd, TikTok influencer Lisa Marshall (who's husband died by suicide - his favourite player was Kris Boyd) , world-leading expert Rory O'Connor, and Mo Mansaray who survived the Glasgow 2020 stabbing attack 

• Part of Scotland’s mission to have the biggest ever conversation about suicide which launched in April 

• First episode drops on World Suicide Prevention Day - Wednesday 10 April 2025 - and weekly, thereafter

• Available to watch here on YouTube - or listen on all major podcast platforms 

Amy is herself bereaved by suicide, having lost her partner Wayne Ewer in 2018.

Now she’s using the power of her own lived and living experience to guide a series of unique conversations. 

Suicide Prevention Scotland is the community of people and organisations who deliver the action plan for the Scottish Government and COSLA’s joint suicide prevention strategy, Creating Hope Together. 

Four episodes will drop, once a week, with the first in the series to go live on World Suicide Prevention Day 2025, Wednesday 10 September. 

Each episode will be broadcast on YouTube. 

Alternatively, they’ll be available on all main podcast platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music. 

The new podcast marks the next phase of Suicide Prevention Scotland’s public awareness campaign, What if a conversation about suicide could save a life?

Every stage of the campaign has been co-produced by people with lived and living, academic or professional experience of suicide. 

Launched in April, it featured four people with their own deeply personal experiences of suicide. They came together to read a letter they had written to a loved one or themselves. Then they engaged in one of the most extraordinary conversations about suicide ever seen. 

And it was effective too, with YouGov data showing an eight percent increase in conversations compared to before the campaign. 

Now, we’re building on that incredible campaign, by continuing to talk about suicide - and in so doing, normalise the idea. 

Guests include world-leading suicide prevention expert Rory O’Connor, former Scotland striker Kris Boyd; TikTok influencer Lisa Marshall; Mo Mansaray, who survived the Glasgow 2020 stabbing attack; filmmaker and disability advocate Paul Stevenson; and Equality Network CEO Rebecca Don Kennedy. 

TV and radio presenter Amy Irons said: “It’s been seven years since Wayne died by suicide. Yes, it still feels raw, but I’ve wanted to find a way that I could contribute to suicide prevention in Scotland. 

“Being part of the What if Podcast has given me an opportunity to talk to some incredible people, including many like myself who have lost a loved one. 

“There were tears, but also lots of smiles, too. Suicide might feel like the hardest thing in the world to talk about, but we hope people will see it’s a good thing to talk about. 

“Research clearly shows that you will not cause someone harm by asking if they are thinking about suicide.

"On the contrary, asking the question may be the vital intervention someone needs. You can, quite literally, save a life.” 

Suicide Prevention Scotland national delivery lead Haylis Smith adds, “When we launched our new public awareness campaign in April, we were really clear that this has to be something we sustain over months and even years. 

“We’ve seen confidence to talk about suicide increase, and in particular more people are talking to family about suicide.

“This is a good start, but we need to keep moving forward. The launch of the What if Podcast is a fantastic opportunity for us to keep talking about suicide, and showing that it is possible to find hope.”

Minister for Mental Wellbeing Tom Arthur has praised the launch of the next phase of our campaign.

“I am pleased to welcome the launch of a podcast series encouraging people to talk openly about suicide," he said.

"This podcast complements our national suicide prevention campaign and provides an important platform to amplify voices, share experiences, and foster hope.

“Our campaign and the podcast, show that through open conversations and compassionate listening, we can challenge the stigma surrounding suicide and explore new ways to support people affected. 

“This work aims to improve understanding, encourage connection and remind everyone that they are not alone – support is available, and help is within reach.”

COSLA Health & Social Care Spokesperson Councillor Paul Kelly is delighted that Amy is used her lived and living experience of suicide.

“The ‘What If’ campaign is centred around the experiences of people with lived and living experience of suicide and I think it’s vitally important that the ongoing work to normalise conversations about suicide is informed by personal experiences," he said.

“I’m so pleased that Amy will be presenting this podcast, as the empathy and authenticity she brings will prove invaluable in ensuring that people in need within our communities feel supported, confident to share their own experiences, and able to have conversations that might just save a life.”

Learn more about the What if Podcast and meet all of our guests, here.