Suicide prevention, occupational health, evidence synthesis and public engagement.
I am Dr Simon H. Walker, a researcher at the University of Glasgow working across occupational health, suicide prevention, workplace mental health, and evidence synthesis. My work focuses on how workplaces, institutions, and communities can better recognise and respond to distress before crisis point. I am particularly interested in suicide prevention beyond traditional clinical settings,... Continue Reading →
Copywrite - Nickdelves.co.uk 16 years ago, I lost a friend/family member to suicide. Today is her birthday, and I wanted to honour her with some memories and a discussion of the work I now do - namely suicide research and prevention. I am not arrogant enough to think that I could have done anything, but... Continue Reading →
Surveillance technologies are rapidly transforming mental health care, promising safety but delivering complex ethical challenges. Drawing on Griffiths et al. (2024) and Foucault’s concept of the panopticon, this reflection considers whether “smart wards” enhance care or merely extend institutional control. In an age of data-driven vigilance, the question is not how much more we can see, but whether we still understand what we are looking at.
Moving house is one of life’s big transitions. Boxes, memories, and a long to-do list. For most, it’s stressful but manageable. For others, especially those already carrying heavy burdens, such major life events can act as tipping points.Today, on National Suicide Prevention Day, I find myself in the middle of one of those life transitions.... Continue Reading →
This week The Independent went with a headline declaring that AI chatbots are “pushing people towards mania, psychosis and death – and OpenAI doesn’t know how to stop it.” It’s dramatic, designed to shock. But it misses the point that while AI has tremendous potential to cause harm, correlation is not causation, nor is the... Continue Reading →
In late July, Nursing Times broke a story that made me go cold. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is under pressure after several nurses died by suicide during lengthy “fitness to practise” (FtP) investigations. This isn’t a minor procedural hiccup. It’s a system so sluggish and adversarial that it actively compounds distress. Nurses have... Continue Reading →
In November 2024, we hosted Laughter Lives at the University of Glasgow Student Union—a sold-out night where comedy collided with care, community, and the kind of conversations that don’t usually happen on stage. Curated and headlined by me Buckaroo Bon-Si (aka Dr Simon Walker), the evening featured a phenomenal lineup of local comedians, blending absurdity,... Continue Reading →
The New Year is often viewed as a time of joy and celebration, but for some individuals, it can highlight feelings of isolation and distress. While there is a common belief that suicides may rise during this period, research shows no significant increase in suicide rates on New Year’s Eve or Day. Instead, major holidays may even see a decrease in suicides. Emotional distress and loneliness can intensify post-holiday, but support networks and coping strategies are crucial. It’s vital to seek help from friends, family, or professionals, as struggles with mental health do not follow a specific timeline. Empathy and understanding are essential year-round.
Neurodiversity, Suicide, and Occupational Health in Scotland - SOM Conference Recently I delivered this talk as a guest of the Society of Occupational Medicine, the given talk included a number of personal anecdotes which are not included here. I’m Dr. Simon Harold Walker, Senior Research Lead at the Healthy Working Lives Group at the University... Continue Reading →
This post is a dual post - its a story of my day yesterday which turned into a horrible end of day and reduced me to a mental health wreck desperate for support, overwhelmed with grief, hurt, and humiliation. But more importantly (I feel at least) is the SOLVE resource I've developed as a result... Continue Reading →
Dr Simon Harold Walker 