PROTECT | Values Guided Suicide Prevention

Manaan Kar Ray
  • 5.0 (1)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

HEALING WITH HOPE | A Journey of Mental Wellbeing, Resilience, and Connection Welcome to PROTECT, a transformative podcast dedicated to nurturing mental well-being, building resilience, and fostering hope. At its core, PROTECT is about the power of human connection—exploring how values like compassion, belonging, and loyalty can become lifelines for those facing challenges. Founded on the principle of Relational Safety, this podcast moves beyond traditional perspectives, asking not “what’s the matter with you?” but “what matters to you?”—empowering both professionals and individuals in their journey to chip away at pain and build strength. Hosted by Dr. Manaan Kar Ray, an innovator and leader in mental health crisis care with over a decade of experience at Oxford and Cambridge, and now the Director of Mental Health Services at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, PROTECT is changing the way we think about suicide prevention. Each episode blends leading-edge research with person-centered practice, bringing insights that promote hope, purpose, and resilience. In our new focus, we introduce the STEPS 4 HOPE podcast series—an intimate exploration of suicide prevention through story, metaphor, and values-based connection. This season follows Ari’s Tapestry, a narrative journey through the six STEPS of suicidal distress: FABRIC, THREAD, NEEDLE, TIP, MEND, and FLOW. Each episode blends poetic storytelling, clinical insight, and emotional resonance to help listeners better understand what risk feels like—and how to respond with presence, curiosity, and care. Grounded in the HOPE framework, this series is a companion for anyone seeking to support others through pain, or to reweave their own path forward. Whether you’re a clinician, caregiver, educator, or someone walking your own recovery journey, this podcast is an essential resource for all those who care deeply about mental health, suicide prevention, and building communities that thrive on connection and kindness. Further information at www.PROGRESS.guide.

  1. 75 | Heart of STEPS: State, Source, Span & Scenario

    09/19/2025

    75 | Heart of STEPS: State, Source, Span & Scenario

    Would love to hear your thoughts... In this episode we move from concept to practice, stepping into the four anchors at the centre of the STEPS model: State, Source, Span, and Scenario. Through Ari’s story, we show how to: Locate where someone is right now (State).Trace what hurts most and what values are under threat (Source).Map how risk ebbs and flows, and how close someone has come to crossing the ideation–action divide (Span).Co-create what if / if…then… plans that make the future safer and more liveable (Scenario).We also weave in the four types of risk—static, stable, dynamic, and fluid—and explain why warning signs trump risk factors, as well as the distinctions between acute, chronic, and acute-on-chronic presentations. Together, these elements shift our practice from prediction to prevention, from deficits to assets, and from TOP (The Only Professional) to TAP (Together As Partners). You’ll learn:  • How to integrate State–Source–Span–Scenario into real conversations.  • Practical ways to keep the ideation–action divide open.  • How to embed risk awareness into collaborative, values-based safety planning. Next time, we’ll step into the HOPE framework—grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy—to explore how values can be woven into daily conversations as anchors of safety and recovery. Content note: This episode discusses suicide. If you are struggling right now, please reach out to local crisis supports or someone you trust. Connect with Assoc Prof Manaan Kar Ray on Linkedin Follow us on www.progress.guide

    53 min
  2. 74 | Top to Tap - World Suicide Prevention Day 2025 Special

    09/12/2025

    74 | Top to Tap - World Suicide Prevention Day 2025 Special

    Would love to hear your thoughts... Progress to Practice  This World Suicide Prevention Day 2025 Special episode explores the three critical mindset shifts that bring suicide prevention from concept to care. First, the shift from prediction to prevention — moving beyond static categories of “low, medium, high” risk to dynamic, forward-focused conversations that anticipate what lies ahead. Second, the shift from past to future — learning from history but ensuring time is spent preparing for the immediate days and weeks where safety can truly be shaped. Third, the shift from deficits to assets — not only naming what is wrong, but reconnecting people to their strengths, values, and relationships that hold them in distress. Together, these shifts are woven into a deeper transformation: from TOP (The Only Professional) to TAP (Together As Partners). Relational safety grows not through control, but through shared responsibility, dignity, and connection. This special episode also reflects on Creating Hope Through Action — a new song released on 10 September 2025 to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. Inspired by the idea that hope lives in small, shared actions, the song invites us all to consider how we can nurture hope for ourselves and for others. We close by setting the stage for the next episode, where we’ll explore the four guiding tasks of the STEPS model: Step, Source, Span, and Scenario — practical anchors for turning mindset into method, and hope into action. Connect with Assoc Prof Manaan Kar Ray on Linkedin Follow us on www.progress.guide

    46 min
  3. Creating Hope Through Action – Commemorating World Suicide Prevention Day

    09/10/2025

    Creating Hope Through Action – Commemorating World Suicide Prevention Day

    Would love to hear your thoughts... A Song for World Suicide Prevention Day Released on 10 September 2025 for World Suicide Prevention Day, this original song captures the heart of this year’s theme: Creating Hope Through Action. Hope has been described by poets as the thing with feathers, fragile yet enduring. But hope is more than a feeling — it is something we create together through the choices we make, the questions we ask, and the care we offer one another. This song is our tribute to those we have lost, to those who are struggling, and to those who continue to work each day to build safer, kinder communities. It reminds us that prevention is not about prediction, but about presence. That dignity lies not only in survival, but in reclaiming connection, meaning, and agency. May this song be a reminder that hope is not abstract. It is actionable. And each of us, in our own ways, can take part in creating it. Lyrics: Creating Hope Through Action Verse 1 We remember the names, the lives, the years, Stories carried through silence and tears. No label, no number can capture their song, Their voices remind us we all belong. Verse 2 Hope, Emily said, is a bird in the soul, A feathered companion that sings and consoles. But hope is not only a whisper or rhyme, It lives in our actions, it grows over time. Chorus Hope is not waiting, it’s what we create, In each small action, in love we demonstrate. Together we carry the flame through the night, Creating hope through action, in each other’s light. Verse 3 The past is a teacher, but the future’s our thread, Woven in moments, in words we have said. Not just what is broken, but what still survives, The ember of meaning that keeps us alive. Bridge From silence to speaking, from shadows to sight, We find in each other the courage to fight. Not one hand alone, but all hands combined, A circle of safety, a thread redefined. Chorus Hope is not waiting, it’s what we create, In each small action, in love we demonstrate. Together we carry the flame through the night, Creating hope through action, in each other’s light. Outro  For the lives we’ve lost, for the lives we save,  Hope is the thread we choose to brave. Final Chorus Hope is not waiting, it’s what we create, In each small action, in love we demonstrate. Together we carry the flame through the night, Creating hope through action, in each other’s light. Connect with Assoc Prof Manaan Kar Ray on Linkedin Follow us on www.progress.guide

    4 min
  4. 73 | Woven Together: Ari's Tapestry

    09/05/2025

    73 | Woven Together: Ari's Tapestry

    Would love to hear your thoughts... This episode is a deliberate pause: a chance to gather the threads of Ari’s journey and see the STEPS model as a whole. We begin with the heart of any assessment—the room between two people. We explore relational safety as a felt sense created by presence, tone, pacing, and transparency, and we name the real tension clinicians hold: the story that needs to unfold and the structure we need to make good decisions. From there, we model a balanced stance—curious, compassionate, and clear—drawing on the posture of motivational interviewing. We show how narrative first honours meaning, and how validity techniques (used gently and transparently) help complete the jigsaw: normalisation, shame attenuation, behavioural incident, gentle assumption, denial of the specific, and symptom amplification. We introduce B4Now, a simple time-window scaffold (Day 1, Two Weeks, Three Months, Before, Now) that weaves story into structure—especially when time is short or memory is scattered. We name common pitfalls (all heart/no map; all map/no heart; cannon questions; hidden agendas; premature reassurance) and how to repair them. Then we revisit each phase—FABRIC, THREAD, NEEDLE, TIP, MEND, FLOW—before hearing Ari’s reflection in her own words: continuation is not neat, but it is possible. We close by previewing what comes next: three practice shifts that deepen STEPS in real-world care—from prediction to prevention, from past to future, and from deficits to assets—alongside four guiding tasks that help us see not just the tear, but the tapestry in motion. Connect with Assoc Prof Manaan Kar Ray on Linkedin Follow us on www.progress.guide

    39 min
  5. 72 | The Weaving Resumes: The FLOW of Life in Motion

    08/29/2025

    72 | The Weaving Resumes: The FLOW of Life in Motion

    Would love to hear your thoughts... In this episode, we return to Ari a month after her attempt — not at an ending, but at a continuation. This is FLOW, the phase of living in motion. FLOW does not promise smoothness. It promises awareness. It helps us notice how life breathes after survival — imperfect, uneven, yet alive. We explore the four strands of FLOW: F – Fluctuations in mood and risk: recognising that ups and downs are not failures, but early signals to listen to.L – Learning from setbacks and successes: turning survival into lived wisdom, and spotting the small strategies that already help.O – Openness to support and change: recognising when to reach out, and building a circle of safety that feels possible.W – What If / If Then planning: rehearsing safety through concrete steps, so the next wave does not overwhelm.Through Ari’s story, we see how these strands begin to take shape: some days heavy, some lighter, but now with more awareness and preparation. FLOW reminds us that life after survival is not a return to “before,” but a rehearsal of life as it is — tender, resilient, and ongoing. Connect with Assoc Prof Manaan Kar Ray on Linkedin Follow us on www.progress.guide

    37 min
  6. 71 | Stitching What Remains: MEND

    08/22/2025

    71 | Stitching What Remains: MEND

    Would love to hear your thoughts... MEND – After the Rupture, the Reweaving Begins After a suicide attempt, survival is not the end of the story — it’s the fragile beginning of another chapter. In this episode, we explore the MEND phase of the STEPS framework: Meaning-Making: searching for fragments of understanding in the aftermath.Emotions in Motion: navigating the waves of guilt, relief, anger, or quiet.New Stressors & Support: facing stigma, disclosure, and the shifting responses of others.Direction Forward: beginning to reweave identity, purpose, and values into daily life.Through Ari’s story, we witness how survival carries both weight and possibility. Healing doesn’t arrive all at once — it is stitched together thread by thread: a sketchbook rediscovered, a message sent, a small gesture of presence. This is the phase of re-entry into life, where compassion and values-based conversations can guide recovery. MEND is not the conclusion of crisis, but the weaving of a future that holds both scars and strength. Connect with Assoc Prof Manaan Kar Ray on Linkedin Follow us on www.progress.guide

    29 min
  7. 70 | Moment of Action: TIP Breaks Through

    08/15/2025

    70 | Moment of Action: TIP Breaks Through

    Would love to hear your thoughts... Action - We enter the fourth phase of the STEPS model — TIP — the moment when suicidal thought becomes action. TIP is an acronym for:  T – Tension Builds – the lead-up to the act: the events, emotions, and pressures that coiled the thread so tight it broke. I – Impact Unfolds – the act itself: whether impulsive or rehearsed, interrupted or completed, and the mindset that accompanied it. P – Postscript Remains – the immediate aftermath: what followed physically, emotionally, and relationally when survival was still possible. We explore how the crossing into action can happen in two ways: Gradually, through the NEEDLE phase, as intention sharpens into planning.Or suddenly — as it does for one in four people — bypassing planning entirely and leaping straight from ideation into action.Drawing on trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused strategies, we discuss how to have these critical conversations — most often in the hours or first day after an attempt — to validate the pain, uncover the story of the rupture, and begin to stitch safety back into the weave of a life that has been torn. Ari’s story returns, showing how the second time was different — fast, impulsive, fuelled by alcohol — and how a knock at the door became the thread that held. Because the story does not end at the point of rupture.  Not if the person is still breathing.  Not if we are still listening. Connect with Assoc Prof Manaan Kar Ray on Linkedin Follow us on www.progress.guide

    31 min
  8. 69 | Sharpened Edges: Eye of the NEEDLE

    08/08/2025

    69 | Sharpened Edges: Eye of the NEEDLE

    Would love to hear your thoughts... Intention and the Quiet Planning of Death When risk tightens, our questions must soften. This is where the thread turns sharp. Sometimes the thread of suicidal thought sharpens—quietly, steadily—until it points toward a plan. This is the NEEDLE phase of the STEPS framework, where risk is no longer just emotional or ideational, but begins to take form. In this episode, we explore the six stages of NEEDLE: Navigating Ambivalence – feeling torn between holding on and letting goExcluding Options – when nothing else feels possibleExamining Means – researching, imagining, preparingDrafting an Exit – forming a plan, even silentlyLeaving Subtle Signs – the quiet goodbyes, often missedExploring the Exit – rehearsing, visiting, coming close… and sometimes turning backThrough Ari’s story and clinical reflections, we learn how to sit beside the weight of intention—not to rush, not to retreat, but to trace the thread with care before it slips through the needle’s eye. Because even here, motion can still shift.  Presence matters. And every thread held is a life with more to live. 🎧 Listen now and stay connected as we walk the STEPS together.  #STEPS4HOPE #SuicidePrevention #MentalHealth #TraumaInformedCare #NEEDLE #Intention #ClinicalEducation #RelationalSafety Connect with Assoc Prof Manaan Kar Ray on Linkedin Follow us on www.progress.guide

    20 min
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About

HEALING WITH HOPE | A Journey of Mental Wellbeing, Resilience, and Connection Welcome to PROTECT, a transformative podcast dedicated to nurturing mental well-being, building resilience, and fostering hope. At its core, PROTECT is about the power of human connection—exploring how values like compassion, belonging, and loyalty can become lifelines for those facing challenges. Founded on the principle of Relational Safety, this podcast moves beyond traditional perspectives, asking not “what’s the matter with you?” but “what matters to you?”—empowering both professionals and individuals in their journey to chip away at pain and build strength. Hosted by Dr. Manaan Kar Ray, an innovator and leader in mental health crisis care with over a decade of experience at Oxford and Cambridge, and now the Director of Mental Health Services at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, PROTECT is changing the way we think about suicide prevention. Each episode blends leading-edge research with person-centered practice, bringing insights that promote hope, purpose, and resilience. In our new focus, we introduce the STEPS 4 HOPE podcast series—an intimate exploration of suicide prevention through story, metaphor, and values-based connection. This season follows Ari’s Tapestry, a narrative journey through the six STEPS of suicidal distress: FABRIC, THREAD, NEEDLE, TIP, MEND, and FLOW. Each episode blends poetic storytelling, clinical insight, and emotional resonance to help listeners better understand what risk feels like—and how to respond with presence, curiosity, and care. Grounded in the HOPE framework, this series is a companion for anyone seeking to support others through pain, or to reweave their own path forward. Whether you’re a clinician, caregiver, educator, or someone walking your own recovery journey, this podcast is an essential resource for all those who care deeply about mental health, suicide prevention, and building communities that thrive on connection and kindness. Further information at www.PROGRESS.guide.

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