In this episode of the Football Mental Health Alliance Podcast, we have the honour of speaking with Alice Hendy MBE, the inspiring founder and CEO of Ripple Suicide Prevention Charity. Alice's journey is one of resilience, determination, and a steadfast commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.
Alice's story began in November 2020 when she tragically lost her brother, Josh, to suicide. In the aftermath of this devastating loss, Alice discovered that Josh had been searching online for information on how to end his life. This heartbreaking realisation fueled Alice's passion to create change and ensure that others in crisis would have access to messages of hope and support.
Driven by her personal experience and a deep desire to prevent similar tragedies, Alice founded Ripple Suicide Prevention Charity in early 2021. The charity's main service is a web browser extension that intercepts harmful online searches related to suicide and self-harm, providing users with messages of hope and signposting to appropriate support services.
In just three years, Ripple has grown rapidly, with its tool being deployed by organizations across the UK, used in 49 countries, and available in 14 languages. Alice's tireless efforts have not gone unnoticed, as she was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List for her work with the charity.
Despite the challenges of balancing her full-time job as a Cyber Security Manager with running the charity, Alice remains dedicated to her mission. She has been recognised as one of the UK's top 100 most influential IT leaders and has been nominated for the 'Technological Innovation Award' for her work with Ripple.
In addition to her work with Ripple, Alice is a TEDx speaker, a One Young World Ambassador, and a motivational speaker. She is passionate about using her platform to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention, particularly in the context of football.
Join us as we delve into Alice's story and learn more about her work with Ripple Suicide Prevention Charity, her thoughts on mental health, and her vision for a safer online environment for all.
Click here to go to R;ipple: https://www.ripplesuicideprevention.com/
