Ben West had to deal with unimaginable loss at the mere age of 17 – losing his younger brother to suicide unexpectedly. Author of “This Book Could Save Your Life – Breaking the Silence Around the Mental Health Emergency”, he is determined to change the state of affairs when it comes to mental health. Ben now speaks at a wide range of events on topics like mental health, inclusive leadership, suicide prevention, diversity, inclusion, and equity.
His brother’s demise played a key role in Ben wanting to get more involved in raising awareness about mental health. Ben organized a walk from London to Kent that was joined by 450 people. With the help of his local parliament, Ben was able to raise £15,000 from the Walk to Talk initiative, for samwestfoundation.org. Now, as a LinkedIn Changemaker, he directs his energy in socially advocating for suicide awareness and prevention.
Ben has forged relationships with several brands and consistently advises them on how to approach mental health in and out of their organisations. He has worked with companies like Accenture, Financial Times, Ocado, and HSBC, and is now on the Board of Directors at Wagamama. Ben has also famously called for the proper preparation of teachers to deal with mental health issues in a classroom. He started a petition to make mental health first aid a compulsory part of teacher training, which was signed by 300,000 people, and has closely worked with Boris Johnson’s government on it.
Recipient of the Diana Legacy Award, Ben is often featured in The Sunday Times Magazine and has appeared on shows like Lorraine, BBC Morning Live, and podcasts like Private Parts. A flagbearer for DEI, mental health, leadership and suicide prevention, Ben is on a mission to provide undue support to whoever may need it. He wants to encourage people to speak up, instead of suffering in silence, and does so through his work as a speaker. Ben West is an eloquent speaker who will make an excellent addition to your next event. Book him today!
