Profiles in Hope: Fifteen Australians tell their stories of surviving suicide and finding the way back to a better life

by John Brogden

Sixteen Australians tell their stories of surviving suicide and finding the way back to a better life.

Every day, nine Australians take their own lives. Eighteen years ago, John Brogden came very close to adding his name to these statistics. But John survived and, since his recovery, he has become a passionate voice for mental health and suicide prevention. He is now the President of Lifeline International.

Personally and professionally, John knows how urgent it is to talk openly about suicide, and to provide those in despair with a way back when they are at their lowest point. Giving hope to those who think there is no other way out is critical. John is living proof there is a way to survive and thrive.

Now, in Profiles in Hope, John is shattering the wall of silence and shame around suicide. And, to help him, he has gathered together some incredible Australians to tell their stories. With contributions from well-known people, such as Jacquie Lambie, Layne Beachley, Preston Campbell and Ian Thorpe, alongside powerful stories of ordinary Aussies who came through to the other side, these deeply personal accounts of survival, recovery and lives of purpose are a balm to vulnerability, and a beacon of light to those struggling. This book is for those at risk and the people who love them and don't know how to help.

Searingly honest and ultimately life-affirming, these are stories of solace and hope and a lifeline for dark times.

Genres: Nonfiction, Mental Health

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 10, 2024

Reviews

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. I think it’s a really courageous thing for the people featured in the book to share their story.

However, I found this book very couched in the medical model - the interviewer was very quick to ask people about mental illness and medication. It’s fascinating to reduce it to that especially after hearing each individual describing their lives up until that point. What I see is very understandable human responses to the life and interpersonal challenges they have faced. Not to mention lots of examples of terrible mental health service experiences and some continued very difficult lives.

I also found it jarring to hear Sir Peter Cosgrove refer to a distressed solider as being “needy” which felt rather judgemental and condescending. An interesting choice of words, particularly for the introduction.

I don’t know that this would be a book that I would recommend to someone feeling suicidal as I’m not sure how hope giving it would actually be, in a time of desperation.

[Said Bouziane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody fantastic read.

Very inspiring individuals, some of which are high profile enough for me to have formed opinions about them just by seeing them on tv or whatever.

Very sobering to get a peek behind the curtain and see the human behind the facade. Hear the story as they tell it.

Not all stories will resonate but there's such a wide variety of stories that you'll probably connect with a few.

I've had thoughts of suicide and still occasionally have those thoughts come unbidden and surprise me.

The book does an excellent job of normalising the struggle, of showing that hope can take all sorts of different forms, of illustrating exactly what was helpful for these different people in their circumstances.

I'm obsessed with suicide prevention work, if you want to have a yarn or nerd out about Lifeline or whatnot, reach out.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read that will make you emotional, grateful for mental health, thankful to be alive and for those around you. Each and every story is unique and beautiful. Great to see an open discussion about mental health, suicide, and other very heavy personal topics.

[Ita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a book to read in one sitting, I could only read one story at a time. So much heart ache and trauma in each chapter, they were all full of hope in the end but I found it hard to read about all the suffering. A very important topic and profits of this book go to Lifeline.

[Clive Hodges · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 2005, John Brogden attended a function where alcohol flowed freely. He later moved on to the Marble Bar in Sydney’s Hilton Hotel. There, he uttered an offensive remark about the wife of Bob Carr, a former State premier, pinched a journalist on the bottom and propositioned another.

He apologised when his misbehaviour became public, resigned as leader of the Liberals in the New South Wales parliament, and attempted suicide. He was depressed, ashamed and sorry.

Slowly, Brogden recovered, reassessed his life’s priorities and became a passionate voice for suicide prevention. In 2009, he joined the board of Lifeline and served as chairman from 2011 to 2021. He was named a member of the Order of Australia in 2014 for significant service to the community and social welfare.

Fifteen Australians who had attempted suicide were interviewed by Brogden. A few of the interviewees are well-known; others are known only to their families, friends and colleagues. All are united in believing that by sharing their experiences, they may help others to stay alive.

The 15 courageously explain the problems they had, the deep feelings of despair, and the one thought that would not go away: suicide was the only option. They also tell their stories of recovery and how they’ve changed their lives for the better.

Royalties earned from the sale of the book are going to Lifeline.

[Amy Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really thought this would be fantastic but I was pretty disappointed. The fifteen interviews were presented unedited, and no further efforts were made to elaborate on their stories or points made, or to provide additional context, research or education.

Mostly I was annoyed by the interview with James Packer closing out the book. I think he was included due to his generosity to the cause of suicide prevention (mentioned in the afterword) and 20 years of personal friendship (Brogden to Packer: "I've found a very generous and caring streak in you") with the author rather than due to a story of surviving suicide. Packer said in his interview that he had dark thoughts but probably didn't get that close. When asked who helped him in dark times, he mentioned first Tom Cruise, then, inexplicably, "Netanyahu [Prime Minister of Israel]. In a big way." I wonder whether this would have been left in if it had been published a year later?

He also called Lachlan Murdoch "a good person, with a good heart."

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A raw and authentic collection of voices that remind us why hope matters. Profiles in Hope brings together powerful, unfiltered interviews with people who have faced extraordinary challenges. The book’s strength lies in its raw conversations, where voices are heard just as they are.

Standout chapters include Layne Beachley, the seven-time World Champion surfer, reflecting on her battle with chronic fatigue syndrome and the realisation that valuing her health and vitality came before everything else. Matthew Caruana, now a wheelchair user after a failed suicide attempt, describes how a stranger’s simple question became the catalyst for an amazing change of direction in his life. Soldier Ben Farinazzo speaks candidly about PTSD, shifting from living “through” to living “with” mental health challenges. Other interviews that stood out to me included Tom Boyd, an AFL player, Ian Thorpe the Australian swimming legend, and James Packer, businessman.

This book is both sobering and uplifting. It’s a reminder that mental health touches everyone, and that listening to others’ stories is one of the most powerful ways we can support each other.

[Jean Creelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant.

[David Orr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superbly put together. A real eye-opener. Can't remember a book that has moved me more. A really courageous project that I hope gets widely read.