{"id":61100,"date":"2025-04-29T20:24:11","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T20:24:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/61100\/"},"modified":"2025-04-29T20:24:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T20:24:11","slug":"emotional-late-night-phone-call-to-radio-show-saves-mans-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/61100\/","title":{"rendered":"Emotional late night phone call to radio show saves man’s life"},"content":{"rendered":"

During a phone-in, Cristo Foufas, radio host and panellist on The Jeremy Vine Show, spoke to a listener ‘Simon’ who was planning to take his life – what happened next was incredible…<\/p>\n

19:22, 29 Apr 2025Updated 20:04, 29 Apr 2025<\/p>\n

\"ACristo Foufas spent 20 minutes speaking to ‘Simon’ who was so distressed that he couldn’t see a way out<\/p>\n

As a broadcaster with 20 years of experience, I\u2019m used to talking. I truly believe discussing issues in the news, thrashing things out, is the key not only to solving problems, but to good mental health. And experts<\/a> agree.<\/p>\n

A recent study found \u201ctalking therapies\u201d \u2013 like seeing counsellors or psychiatrists <\/a>\u2013 achieve far better results than any other type of treatment. But even talking with friends can help. Who doesn\u2019t feel better after a chin-wag?<\/p>\n

The Mental Health Foundation agrees, stating friendships play a \u201ckey role\u201d in good mental health<\/a>. I\u2019ve presented many different types of radio shows, but there\u2019s nothing that compares with the emotional connection I\u2019ve felt when hosting late-night phone-ins.<\/p>\n

This sort of show is a place where I\u2019ve heard the most incredible stories from people about their lives. I\u2019ve been privy to triumphs, tragedies, laughter and tears. It\u2019s been an honour and a privilege to lend an ear.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Hidden sugar in supermarket coffee and milkshakes ranked as expert gives dire warning<\/a>\"ADuring covid, Cristo Foufas took a late-night call that had a profound impact on him – helping a man in the depths of a mental health crisis(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

What many of them don\u2019t know is how much they\u2019ve helped me with my mental health over the years. During times when I\u2019ve been suffering with debilitating depression or a crippling eating disorder, it\u2019s knowing I\u2019d get a chance to speak to callers which gave me the will to dust myself off, get dressed and go to work.<\/p>\n

And every time, I\u2019ve felt better after \u2013 demonstrating the power of talking. Thankfully, I\u2019m in a far happier place now. But I still wasn\u2019t prepared for a call I received four years ago during the Covid lockdown. It was a surreal and frightening time for everyone.<\/p>\n

But as the presenter of the 10pm-1am show on TalkTV, I genuinely felt I had a duty to help with the mental health of my audience \u2013 many of whom hadn\u2019t really seen anyone in person for months.<\/p>\n

I used to call myself their \u201clate-night friend\u201d as people were so delicate during that period. It was a heavy responsibility and I like to think the experience of my own mental-health struggles brought a perspective which really helped.<\/p>\n

\"ACristo, who’s a panelist on The Jeremy Vine Show on Channel 5, says that call-ins from listeners have helped him with his own mental health struggles(Image: Channel 5)<\/p>\n

One night, my producer put through a call from \u201cSimon\u201d. While I was used to hearing those who were struggling, Simon was different. Within moments of coming on air, he delivered a bombshell: he was planning on taking his own life.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d already tried once, and failed. His mental health was still in turmoil, he was racked with guilt about letting down his children over his previous suicide attempt, and was in despair over the personal problems he was facing around his finances, his ex-partner, and his job. He saw no other way out.<\/p>\n

I did what any friend would do – I listened. I let him talk. I gave him advice. I repeatedly told him he had nothing to feel guilty about. That things would change and the power was in his hands. We just happened to be speaking on a national radio station with an audience of hundreds of thousands of people, but it could have been any two friends talking.<\/p>\n

The conversation lasted more than 20 minutes which is unheard of on Talk radio. And then off-air, my producer gave Simon advice on where he could get help. It was a tough call, but we really hoped we\u2019d got through to him, and we were happy he\u2019d chosen to speak to someone. He\u2019d unburdened himself of the weight he was carrying, even if it was on national radio, and seemed better for it.<\/p>\n

\"ACristo hosted the phone-in during lockdown. He says, ‘I genuinely felt I had a duty to help with the mental health of my audience'(Image: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n

Subsequently we\u2019d tried contacting Simon again in the following months without any luck, and I\u2019d often thought about whether his mental health had improved since our call. So I was shocked to the core when I finally heard from him four years later.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately due to cuts, my show was one of many being axed by the station. During my final show, \u201cSimon from Bristol\u201d was put through and, by then, it had been so long I\u2019m embarrassed to admit I didn\u2019t recognise his name. But I was left speechless when he told me he couldn\u2019t let me leave Talk without thanking me for \u201csaving his life\u201d.<\/p>\n

He went on to explain that the call he made was the turning point. He\u2019d gone on to have a meaningful relationship with his children, a stable home life, and even a dog. And he credited it, the help we gave him, as the moment it all changed. It kick-started his journey to a better place.<\/p>\n

Hearing that was one of the most humbling moments in my career. As I pointed out, all I did was be a friend; he\u2019d actually done the hard work by speaking out about his mental health.<\/p>\n

\"ACristo believes that discussing issues in the news, thrashing things out, is the key not only to solving problems, but to good mental health(Image: Channel 5)<\/p>\n

What would have happened had he not called my show four years ago? If, like the two-thirds of people who suffer, he\u2019d decided to just put on a brave face? He\u2019d almost certainly not have been here to tell the tale, yet another statistic of male suicide which is still rising every year. If anything shows how crucial it is to speak up about mental health, this does.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m thrilled the Radio Academy has recognised the moment Simon called to thank me as a nominee in this year\u2019s ARIA awards for Radio Times Moment of the Year. It\u2019s voted for by the public, votes close May 1, and if we won, it really would cement the power of radio as well as the importance of speaking up about your mental health.<\/p>\n