Episode 12 PukaUp: Kate McLoughlin

Summary: In this candid and raw episode, Kate McLoughlin talks about the impact and grief that comes with suicide. Kate lost her then 19-year-old middle son Zach to suicide twenty months ago, a day that changed her life forever. Kate's honesty and candour is both heart breaking and inspiring. A single mum to three young men, Kate talks about her pride in her middle son: his cheeky, infectious personality that meant people gravitated to him, how he had a wonderful support network of friends and family, a good job, new car and a promising future. Kate speaks about the conversations she shared with Zach when two of his friends chose suicide instead of life, how angry he was about their decisions which gave her a level of comfort that suicide wasn't something Zach would ever consider. Tragically, it was a decision Zach chose and by choosing suicide he simply passed the pain and suffering onto family and friends. Kate also explains why she chose to speak about suicide and its devastating effects in front of a large audience at Zach's funeral, how she sees it as a gift and responsibility to talk about suicide with the aim of helping prevent other people from making the same irreversible mistake her fun-loving son made. Kate McLoughlin is an inspiring, courageous and brave person who continues to work through the grief, pain and loss that accompanies suicide. Kate's refusal to remain quiet on the issue of suicide has and will continue to save lives across the world. This is a compelling, heartfelt and emotional episode. Today, the 27th November, 2017 would have been Zach's 21st birthday #RIP Zach PukaUp: https://www.pukaup.com/ Find PukaUp on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pukaup/ Follow PukaUp on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pukaup/ Find PodcastOne Australia on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/podcastoneau/ Follow PodcastOne Australia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcastoneau/ Follow PodcastOne Australia on Twitter: https://twitter.com/podcastoneau Download the PodcastOne app from the Apple and Google Play app stores