In this moving conversation, Dr Tony Pisani speaks with Steve Wickham, a workplace health and safety professional, chaplain, and writer. Steve shares his remarkable journey from his early days as a tradesman in Western Australia, through personal trials of grief, loss, and recovery, to his current roles supporting first responders and families.

With honesty and warmth, Steve opens up about the people who shaped his path, the importance of kinship and purpose, and the lessons he has learned from decades of walking alongside others in crisis. His reflections highlight the power of presence, humility, and hope in the face of life’s deepest challenges.

Guest Bio:

Steve Wickham is a chaplain, pastor, and writer based in Western Australia. He began his career as a tradesman before moving into health and safety in 1997, working for decades as a safety professional. Today, he serves as a part-time chaplain with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and Children and Families Pastor at a Baptist church.

Referenced Resources:

• The Entitlement Cure — Dr John Townsend
• Heartfelt (Australia) — photography and support for families experiencing stillbirth and infant loss
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)
• Department of Fire and Emergency Services (WA) — wellness and chaplaincy support

Production credits:
Hannah Corcoran, Producer and Senior Editor https://www.linkedin.com/in/h-corcoran/
Annie Lewis, Content Manager https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-lewis-304854117/
Luke Pisani, Music https://www.instagram.com/lukepisani_/

(c) 2024. SafeSide Media, LLC.

In this special episode of Never the Same, we share the full keynote address from host, Professor Tony Pisani, delivered at the Suicide Prevention Australia Conference.

Professor Pisani explores how the structure of our relationships—not just how supported we feel—can protect people from suicide risk. Drawing on studies in schools, the military, and health settings, he shows how strong, shared connections make a difference, especially when people don’t or can’t speak up.

He introduces the Connect Program, a group-based training that strengthens team cohesion and reduces suicide risk without needing people to self-identify. The episode also includes real-world examples from Western Australia and beyond.

It explores not only the importance of social structure in prevention, but HOW we can build those networks.

Key Points Covered

• Why social structure matters in suicide prevention
• The power of shared trusted adults in reducing suicide risk
• How Connect builds protective networks
• Insights from high school and military research
• Shifting suicide reviews from blame to learning
• Local examples from Western Australia, including first responder initiatives and postvention pilots

🔗 Resources Mentioned

• SafeSide Prevention: https://safesideprevention.com.au
• Connect Program: WA Workplace Connect info page
• Never the Same podcast home: Podcast page

In this episode of "Never the Same," Tony Pisani sits down with two of Western Australia's leading mental health voices: Maureen Lewis, Mental Health Commissioner since 2023, and Dr. Nathan Gibson, Chief Psychiatrist since 2013. Together, they represent both the vision for reform and the clinical guardrails of accountability in Western Australia’s mental health system.

The conversation explores their unique roles in the mental health landscape, from commissioning services to regulatory oversight. They share insights on strategic leadership, including frameworks for crisis decision-making and the importance of "thinking time" in complex systems. The discussion covers First Nations mental health approaches, the integration of lived experience voices, and their shift toward trauma-informed care.

Both leaders reflect on their accidental paths to leadership, the challenges of managing a mental health system across one of the world's largest geographic health services, and what gives them hope for the future. Their candid discussion offers valuable lessons for anyone interested in systemic change and leadership in challenging environments.

Guests:

Maureen Lewis was appointed Mental Health Commissioner for Western Australia in July 2023. In this role, she oversees the commissioning of all mental health and drug and alcohol services in Western Australia, a role that combines purchasing decisions with advocacy.

Dr. Nathan Gibson has served as Western Australia's Chief Psychiatrist since 2013. He provides independent regulatory oversight under the Mental Health Act. His focus includes standards of care, quality, safety, and reducing restrictive practices across public and private psychiatric services.

Host Dr. Tony Pisani is a professor, clinician, and founder of SafeSide Prevention, leading its mission to build safer, more connected military, health, education, and workplace communities.