KMFM News | Ann Feloy of Olly’s Future talks about Medical Students’ Mental Health
Transcript
LBC Interview with Nick Ferrari and Ann Feloy, Founder and CEO of Olly’s Future
In this heartfelt interview with Nick Ferrari on LBC, Ann Feloy, founder and CEO of Olly’s Future, shares the story behind the charity and her tireless work in suicide prevention. The charity was founded in memory of her son, Oliver, who tragically took his own life in 2017 at the age of 22.
Ann begins by reflecting on her son’s life and the impact of his loss: “I lost my beloved son Oliver to suicide when he was 22 years old, and that was in 2017. Since then, I’ve worked tirelessly in suicide prevention, setting up the charity in his memory, with friends as trustees.” She mentions how Oliver would have been 30 this year and talks about the thousands of people they’ve trained in suicide prevention.
She explains the importance of spotting the signs of someone struggling: “We’ve created 10 practical tools to help spot the signs and ask in a sensitive, non-judgmental way about how someone is feeling. It’s not counseling or therapy, but it’s a step towards keeping them safe and getting help.”
When discussing the mental health crisis in the UK, Ann highlights that medical students don’t currently receive suicide prevention training as part of their core curriculum. She’s been lobbying for changes to include it, saying: “I wish everyone had this training.”
Remembering Oliver Ann fondly remembers Oliver’s love for life and his adventurous spirit. She shares his travel journals, which he meticulously kept during his gap year travels around Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, and South America. His journals have now been compiled into a book titled Oliver’s Travels.
“He traveled around the world and kept all his journals. When he passed, I found them in a prominent place. I didn’t even know they existed to that extent,” Ann shares. “I’ve worked with friends to type them up, and now they’ve been published.”
A 90-minute documentary has also been created about Oliver, the charity, and his travels, set to launch alongside the book at an event in Soho.
What Ann Has Learned About Suicide Towards the end of the interview, Nick asks Ann what she’s learned about suicide through her work. She poignantly notes that no one is immune: “There’s no certain type of person who might have suicidal thoughts—anyone can experience it. Statistics show that one in 20 people might attempt to take their own life in their lifetime.”
Ann concludes the interview with a reminder that we all have a role to play in preventing suicide. As a final note, Nick mentions that he’s honored to be included in the documentary, supporting the important work Olly’s Future is doing.
