This week’s episode of Minds on the Mersey is a raw, honest, and emotionally charged two‑part conversation that moves from humour and everyday chaos to one of the most powerful interviews the show has ever hosted. Part One opens in classic Sam‑and‑Richie fashion: tired, wired, and laughing through the madness of the week. The lads dive straight into Richie’s ADHD medication update. The pair unpack the realities of living with ADHD in a way only they can: unfiltered, relatable, and funny. But the tone shifts sharply when Sam brings up a BBC story about Bethany Hewitt, a young mum from Runcorn who waited three and a half years for an ADHD assessment and tragically died by suicide just 19 days after telling her GP she was struggling. The lads break down the failings in the system, the backlog of assessments, the flaws in suicide‑risk scoring, and the wider issue of people dismissing ADHD as “made up.” It’s one of the most serious and heartfelt discussions they’ve had — highlighting how dangerous it is when people fall through the cracks. Part Two begins with Richie’s “fantastic fuck‑up” of the week — accidentally peeing on the cat — before the episode welcomes a deeply special guest: John Bell, bereaved father, endurance athlete, founder of Walking for Hope, and creator of the “Dad‑Pool” bathtub challenges. John speaks openly about losing his 15‑year‑old son Jake, the year he spent planning to join him, and the brutal process of rebuilding a life after unimaginable loss. He shares how extreme endurance challenges became his lifeline — from carrying a bathtub covered in rubber ducks across the UK, to climbing mountains, to chasing fastest‑known‑times — all to honour Jake and support others facing grief, trauma, and suicidal thoughts. John talks about mental toughness, the myth of the “alpha male,” why men struggle to talk, and how building a personal “toolbox” can save lives when no one else is around at 3am. The conversation is emotional, inspiring, and full of moments that stop you in your tracks. John’s honesty, resilience, and commitment to helping others make this one of the most powerful episodes to date. By the end, the lads reflect on charity work, self‑care, and the importance of checking in on yourself as much as you check in on others. It’s an episode that swings from laughter to heartbreak to hope — exactly what Minds on the Mersey is all about. Walking 4 Hope website: https://www.walking4hope.org Minds on the Mersey Website: https://www.mindsonthemersey.co.uk Minds on the Mersey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindsonthemersey/ Minds on the Mersey Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584932450006 Minds on the Mersey TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@minds.on.the.mers Merch can be found here: https://www.tshirtstudio.com/marketplace/motm If you’re struggling, please reach out — help is always available 💛 In the UK, you can contact: • Samaritans — free, 24/7 at 116 123 • Mind — mental health support via 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 • Shout — text 85258 for confidential crisis support You are not alone. Talking saves lives. 💛
