Health In Europe

When we hear the word suicide, many of us instinctively recoil. The word is taboo in everyday life.  For family members who have lost somebody to suicide, this stigma can make grieving even more complex.  People may struggle to explain the loss and how they feel about it to friends, colleagues, and other family members. 
But how do you explain suicide to a young child?  What words should you use? How do you support them? 
In June 2024, Ireland's National Office for Suicide Prevention published an illustrated children's book called Safe Harbour, to help parents and carers talk to children bereaved by suicide. 
The book, written by Patricia Ford and illustrated by Bronna Lee, encapsulates much of what suicide bereavement is about, navigating a world that is both completely new and oddly normal.  For this episode of Health in Europe, we are looking at suicide bereavement with Safe Harbour as our compass.
DOWNLOAD SAFE HARBOUR:
You can download the book and its resources at https://www.childhoodbereavement.ie/safeharbour 
PLEASE NOTE:
This episode of Health in Europe covers the theme of suicide and contains an account of suicide bereavement. If you are thinking of ending your life, please reach out to family and friends or to a local suicide helpline. If you are unsure of helplines in your area, please visit: https://findahelpline.com 
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This episode of Health In Europe was originally published in August 2025.
To find out further about any of the subjects covered in the Health In Europe podcast, visit our website: https://www.who.int/europe/

When we talk about alcohol at WHO, we often start with the evidence. Today, we're starting with people's experiences.
Aleksandra Olsen works on communications about alcohol and health here at WHO Regional Office for Europe.  At WHO, it is common that we will talk about units, thresholds and risk.  Today, Aleks put all of the statistics aside and invited three women in for a conversation.
Mia, who is 34 and has stage 4 breast cancer.  Hazel, a journalist, and in the past has experienced alcohol related liver disease.  And Millie, who is the founder of Sober Girl Society, which is for sober and sober-curious women.    
Millie puts it this way: there is a lot we could be doing about alcohol that we are not.  Conversations we could be having.  
This is one of them.
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Show notes/links
WHO Regional Office for Europe: https://www.who.int/europe
Alcohol use (from the WHO website): https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/fact-sheets/item/alcohol-use
No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health: https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health
Podcasts: https://www.who.int/europe/multimedia-pages/podcasts
To find out further about any of the subjects covered in the Health In Europe podcast, visit our website: https://www.who.int/europe/

In the first episode of this mini-series, we've heard why WHO/Europe launched the Special Initiative on Violence Against Women and Girls. In the second, we spoke with UNFPA on how health systems can and are practically taking steps to help tackle gender based violence.
In this third episode of 'I believe you' we speak with Elisa Fernandez Saenz from UN Women Europe and Central Asia. We hear about Elisa's upbringing in Costa Rica, what led her to her work with UN Women, how important cooperation across sectors is to addressing gender inequality and much more.
I Believe You is a three-part mini series for WHO's Health In Europe. This is episode three. 
Listen to episode one: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1109867/episodes/19542850
Listen to episode two: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1109867/episodes/19569187 
To find out further about any of the subjects covered in the Health In Europe podcast, visit our website: https://www.who.int/europe/

Last episode on I Believe You, Dr. Hans Kluge set out why WHO Europe has made violence against women and girls one of its top priorities. This week, what that means in practice. 
When a woman or a girl walks into a clinic, that may be the only moment anyone has a chance to notice what is happening to her, whether the person in front of her is ready to understand that it can change everything.  
Melanie Hyde and Greg Bianchi spoke to Florence Bauer, who runs the UN Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency, UNFPA as Regional director across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. They talk about how that work connects to violence, about the abuse that has moved online, and got very much worse there. 
I Believe You is a three-part mini series for WHO's Health In Europe.  This is episode two. 
Listen to episode one: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1109867/episodes/19542850
To find out further about any of the subjects covered in the Health In Europe podcast, visit our website: https://www.who.int/europe/

What role does a health system play in protecting women and girls from violence? I Believe You is a new podcast mini-series from WHO's Health In Europe, under the Special Initiative on Violence Against Women and Girls. Throughout the series, we talk with leaders from WHO, UNFPA and UN Women to explore what role health systems play in protecting women and girls from violence and what more can be done to make societies safer.
In this first episode, we sit down with Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, to introduce the Special Initiative and discuss the complex challenges facing healthcare professionals on the front line of this issue.
Show notes/links
WHO/Europe Special Initiative on Violence Against Women and Girls https://www.who.int/europe/initiatives/special-initiative-on-violence-against-women-and-girls-sivawg
Care, courage, change: health-sector leadership in tackling violence against women and girls: https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/WHO-EURO-2025-12846-52620-81536
Second European Programme of Work (EPW2): https://www.who.int/europe/about-us/our-work/second-european-programme-of-work-2026-2030
To find out further about any of the subjects covered in the Health In Europe podcast, visit our website: https://www.who.int/europe/