To puppy or not to puppy if you’re feeling stressed? We tackle this question in today’s podcast.

We feel well qualified to answer this question as both Suzy and Glen got puppies over Christmas 2021.

Apologies for the fits of giggles that Suzy experiences in this episode. It’s Kevin the Carrot wot did it (you’ll have to listen now…).

We are always looking for volunteers to help, as currently it’s just the two of us (Suzy and Glen) and we’re doing it around our kids, jobs, hobbies and puppies! We’re also always looking for people keen to tell their honest stories and open up the mental health conversation.

Details of how to contact us below.

To see our Hello There Facebook page where you’ll see updates on our events and content: https://www.facebook.com/hellotherebadenochandstrathspey

Update and events etc will also be posted on Suzy’s Instagram page:

https://www.instagram.com/bigjuicycreativeliving

or Suzy's Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/bigjuicycreativeliving

Many of us have them but most are too embarrassed, ashamed or freaked out to admit to them. But we, at Loony Dookers, believe that suicidal thoughts are a bit like burps: better out than in.

We believe passionately in destigmatising mental health and normalising, without glamourising, the conversation around tricky topics, like suicidal thoughts, that are such a common part of anxiety/depression for some.

In this podcast, Suzy and Glen talk openly about their experiences of having suicidal thoughts and what they now do with them.

Don’t be put off listening to this episode if you think it’ll be a bit heavy – it’s surprisingly light and we think you’ll feel uplifted afterwards. We did after recording it!

We are always looking for volunteers to help, as currently it’s just the two of us (Suzy and Glen) and we’re doing it around our kids, jobs, hobbies and puppies!

Details of how to contact us below.

To see our Hello There Facebook page where you’ll see updates on our events and content: https://www.facebook.com/hellotherebadenochandstrathspey

Update and events etc will also be posted on Suzy’s Instagram page:

https://www.instagram.com/bigjuicycreativeliving

or Suzy's Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/bigjuicycreativeliving

A lot of people still hide their mental health struggles due to fear of judgement and shame. This is exhausting and makes those mental health struggles worse. It also creates disconnection rather than connection in your relationships and communities.

At Loony Dookers, we believe the world would be a better place, and happier to live in, if we were all a bit more honest – especially as we live in an increasingly perfectly instagrammable digital world.

We also believe that no one in life gets off scot-free and everyone has their struggles and their story to tell – if you want to tell yours, to us, on this podcast so others can learn from, and build empathy for, your experiences – please get in touch. Details at the foot of these notes.

Glen and Suzy talk in this episode about the experience of sharing their mental health stories openly and some of the surprising benefits.

We are always looking for volunteers to help, as currently it’s just the two of us (Suzy and Glen) and we’re doing it around our kids, jobs, hobbies and puppies! We’re also always looking for people keen to tell their honest stories and open up the mental health conversation.

To see our Hello There Facebook page where you’ll see updates on our events and content: https://www.facebook.com/hellotherebadenochandstrathspey

Update and events etc will also be posted on Suzy’s Instagram page:

https://www.instagram.com/bigjuicycreativeliving

or Suzy's Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/bigjuicycreativeliving

Glen Tonkin, highland entrepreneur, family man and sporty Shinty lad set up a local community organisation pre-Covid called ‘Hello There’ with the aim of destigmatising mental health issues and getting people talking honestly about their challenges and how they feel.

It started when Glen found the courage to stand up on his own in front of a large crowd in Newtonmore Village Hall and tell his story of anxiety depression.

This Loony Dookers podcast is a way to build on what Glen started with Hello There and, as we come out of the pandemic, coming together more as a community. To create this podcast Glen has joined forces with local Big Juicy Creative podcast host and writer Suzy Bashford.

We plan to use this podcast to foster a stronger sense of community and support, sharing what works to make life better, with the intention to run regular events face to face, too.

We are always looking for volunteers to help, as currently it’s just the two of us (Suzy and Glen) and we’re doing it around our kids, jobs, hobbies and puppies! We’re also always looking for people keen to tell their honest stories and open up the mental health conversation.

Details of how to contact us below.

In this podcast, Suzy interviews Glen - he elaborates further on his story, and how he’s learnt to cope, what the illness has taught him and how he’s found a sense of humour over the years, too.

*Please note we've marked this episode as 'explicit' because it covers themes around mental health that some may find distressing, such as suicidal thoughts.

To see Feet and Away’s video of Glen opening up about his mental health story, that he mentions see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaKxHpnQ_ig

To see our Hello There Facebook page where you’ll see updates on our events and content: https://www.facebook.com/hellotherebadenochandstrathspey

Update and events etc will also be posted on Suzy’s Instagram page:

https://www.instagram.com/bigjuicycreativeliving

or Suzy's Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/bigjuicycreativeliving

To see the coach that Glen talks about, see Paul Mort’s website here:

https://www.paulmort.uk/