BBC Scotland Presenter Amy Irons Says Partner's Suicide 'Still Feels Raw' Seven Years On

BBC Scotland presenter Amy Irons said the suicide of her partner continues to feel "raw" seven years after his death as she spoke about her own struggle with grief and mental health on a new podcast from Suicide Prevention Scotland.

Irons, 34, who lost boyfriend Wayne Ewer in 2018 after a long battle with his mental health, will host the What If Podcast, a four-episode series that the charity said is part of an effort to encourage the country's "biggest ever conversation" about suicide. In the first episode she described the experience as "probably the most traumatic life altering experience that I’ve ever had" and said she was unprepared for the complex emotions that followed, including feeling suicidal herself.

"I was not prepared for all the complex emotions and the kind of grief that would come afterwards," Irons said. "I certainly wasn’t prepared to then feel suicidal myself. All of this tells us that suicide is closer than you might think."

Suicide Prevention Scotland said the podcast will be broadcast on YouTube and across major podcast platforms, with the first of four episodes released Tuesday. Guests include former Scotland striker Kris Boyd, Mo Mansaray, a survivor of the 2020 Glasgow stabbing attack, and social media influencer Lisa Marshall, whose husband died by suicide. Irons said the conversations included both tears and smiles and that discussing suicide openly can be a vital intervention.

"Research clearly shows that you will not cause someone harm by asking if they are thinking about suicide," she said. "On the contrary, asking the question may be the vital intervention someone needs. You can, quite literally, save a life."

Irons' comments add a public voice to ongoing efforts in Scotland and the wider United Kingdom to address rising concerns about mental health and suicide prevention. Campaigners and health organisations have increasingly emphasised the role of open conversation, early intervention and accessible support services in reducing suicide risk.

Suicide Prevention Scotland said the series aims to broaden understanding of the issue by sharing lived experience and practical advice. The charity has previously worked with community groups, health services and policymakers to develop prevention strategies and improve access to support.

For confidential support in the United Kingdom, the Samaritans can be contacted at 116 123 or online at www.samaritans.org. Local health services and mental health charities offer additional support and crisis resources.