Discussing the intersection of suicide, masculinity and work, with Tom Dickinson

Our special guest this episode is Tom Dickinson, founder of Tom's Talks. The episode centres around Tom's personal experience of losing his brother to suicide and how that shaped the work he does today, speaking in schools and workplaces about mental health and wellbeing. In this episode, we explore the intersections between suicide, masculinity, and work and reflect on what organisations can learn in supporting mental health and preventing harm.

This episode was recorded on 18 March 2026. A transcript of the episode is available. If you would like to get in touch regarding the episode or podcast, email research.lubs@leeds.ac.uk. Visit the podcast webpage for further information.

If you have been affected by anything you’ve heard, support is available. You can contact Samaritans, who offer free, confidential listening support 24/7, on 116 123 or in person or via online chat.

If you are in the UK and need urgent mental health support, you can call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option to be directed to your local crisis service. If you are in immediate danger, please call 999.

About the speakers:

Tom is the founder of Toms Talks, a mental health initiative focused on breaking the stigma around suicide and men’s mental health. Following the loss of his brother to suicide, Tom now works across schools and organisations, delivering powerful talks that combine lived experience with practical insights. He has built a large online following of nearly 250,000 on TikTok and has inspired millions through his content, helping to open up conversations around mental health.

Dr Sanjay Popat is a Chartered Organisational Psychologist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow specialising in occupational stress, well-being and mental health. His work focuses on how these phenomena occur over time and how time might influence whether we adapt to stressors or reach a breaking point.