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  • When It Is Darkest

  • Why People Die by Suicide and What We Can Do to Prevent It
  • By: Rory O'Connor
  • Narrated by: Rory O'Connor
  • Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (23 ratings)
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When It Is Darkest cover art

When It Is Darkest

By: Rory O'Connor
Narrated by: Rory O'Connor
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Summary

When It Is Darkest draws on Rory O'Connor's years of experience in suicide prevention, mental health and psychology and takes a comprehensive look into the reasons behind suicide and how to support someone who is suicidal themselves.

Suicide is baffling and devastating in equal measures, and it can affect any one of us - one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds. Yet despite the scale of the devastation, for family members and friends, suicide is still poorly understood.

Drawing on decades of work in the field of suicide prevention and research, and having been bereaved by suicide twice, Professor O'Connor is here to help. This audiobook will untangle the complex reasons behind suicide and dispel any unhelpful myths. For those trying to help someone vulnerable, it will provide indispensable advice on communication, stressing the importance of listening to fears and anxieties without judgment. And for those who are struggling to get through the tragedy of suicide, it will help you find strength in the darkest of places.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Rory O’Connor (P)2022 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

"Prof O'Connor gives us a rare and truly affecting gift.... If you want to truly get to the heart of 'the big S question', read this incredible book. I wept and I learnt." (Professor Tanya Byron, clinical psychologist, author and broadcaster)

"An essential read. Honest and unflinching, but always thoughtful and compassionate, Rory O'Connor brings light to a subject that has for too long been in the shadows." (Dr Niall Boyce, editor of Lancet Psychiatry

"I read [it] in a single sitting. What makes it so compelling is its unique combination of research, clinical, and deeply personal perspectives on one of the great societal challenges of our time. Rory's enthusiasm to make things better and his utter dedication to suicide prevention shines through." (Professor Nav Kapur, professor of psychiatry and population health, University of Manchester, UK) 

What listeners say about When It Is Darkest

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Important insight into suicide

I am severely disabled and often have suicidal thoughts myself. Because I am physically unable to harm myself, I cannot actually commit suicide. I wanted to find a book that would make me understand why I find suicide as the best solution to my problems and that I'm not selfish or a bad person for thinking that way. This book didn't change my mind or anything but it did make me feel heard and valued. It gave me some emotional support that I desperately needed.

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2 people found this helpful

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Mixed feelings

"The suicide is not a sin" part of this audiobook was particularly jarring to hear. Rory is speaking outside of his métier in making such a pronouncement. I also don't like Rory's advice that emergency services should be called when you suspect someone's suicide is imminent as I think everyone should have the right to end their life unimpeded. Such coercive measures reinforce the "taboo" status of suicide and stifle authentic dialogue on the subject. Overall the main takeaway is suicide is hard to predict and by reading this book you will probably only have learned (i) that the phrase "commited suicide" is offensive to some people, (ii) single people kill themselves at higher rates than married people (which is probably not true and also divorced people kill themselves at higher rates so it hardly matters considering the way our degenerate society is heading with divorce becoming the norm, it's a lose-lose situation), (iii) that correlation ≠ causation, so the increase in teenage girls offing themselves in this vapid age of social media is coincidence and their increased willingness to use more violent means comme des garçons, (iv) that Rory recognised that the 2020 lockdowns etc were going to wreak the havoc they eventually did wreak (on the minds of the vulnerable) unlike virtually every other academic, intellectual and lickspittle for the status quo who giddily relished one of the darkest and most tyrannical periods in recent history. In conclusion I really wish someone would have the backbone to write a book actually defending the nobility and honor of those who commit suicide out of self respect and contempt for the worthless world we live in, a truly libertarian- freedom-loving perspective. Because suicide is "the last taboo" (To use Rory's words) unless someone can write a Zeitgeist defeating gospel in defense of suicide, suicide will spend the foreseeable future as stigmatised as ever. This book serves the powers that be. 2 stars out of 5.

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Perfect balance of psychological and biological factors and optimistic ways forward for all


Beautifully written and heart felt truthful accounts supporting harsh scientific but inexplicable realities through a psychological and biological perspective. Clear rationales, still will never be easy to comprehend.
an academic scientist myself, it’s helped me realtse once I’m well enough to work again, I still can continue in a profession that I had thought would have prevented me from re entering with a mental illness. Thank you.

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Academically written and read

As a 3rd year Clinical Psychology student, the information and referencing within the book have helped to provide additional resources for my final project. The book is very informative and helpful in understanding the subject.

As a long term service user with a catalogue of mental health conditions including EUPD (BPD), cPTSD, frequent self harm, and numerous attempts of suicide. Had I not been academically minded, I doubt I would have completed the book due to the vast amount of referencing, lack of personalisation within the content and structure which is harder to follow in audio form.

As much as I appreciate the author is a Psychologist and as such is conditioned to write in this way, I feel the book would have benefited from a warmer and more engaging introduction.

Overall however, the book is highly informative and has helped with my studies, for this is am grateful to the author.

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Suicide prevention for all

Powerful, inspiring, and potentially lifesaving. I thought this was absolutely brilliant and highlights how we can all make a difference, both to those thinking about suicide, and to those bereaved by suicide.

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very informative

Informative, engaging narration and addressing a very important issue. i would highly recommended this book

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Helped me find answers to hard questions

This is a book I've been looking for since losing a friend to suicide and asking myself why. The author clearly and compassionately explains what he knows about why people die by suicide using the most important research findings, but reflects on these from his own personal experience. Listening to him speak from the heart with an obvious drive to keep trying to understand more has given me hope for better help for people struggling to cope. Thank you to Professor O'Connor and his colleagues for continuing to find the courage to do this most important work..

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