Dr Simon Walker, who prefers to go by Si, is a suicidologist at Glasgow University who has also been on the city’s comedy circuit for the last two years.
He has organised a stand-up show at the university next Wednesday in collaboration with charities Samaritans, Papyrus and Andy’s Man Club, to raise awareness about suicide prevention and research.
Si Walker, known on the comedy circuit as Buckaroo Bon-Si (Image: Supplied) Si is a senior associate researcher at the Institute of Health and Wellbeing’s Healthy Working Lives Group, which focuses on occupational health research.
He is currently leading a project called Resume, which is looking into the growing issue of nurse suicide in Scotland.
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Currently, female nurses are four times more likely to end their own lives than any other female-dominated employment group in the UK.
Scotland has the highest recorded suicide rate in the UK, according to figures from the Zero Suicide Alliance, with 14.8 suicides per 100,000.
Si has attempted to end his own life three times, which is why he is interested in suicide as a researcher.
He changed careers to occupational health around three years ago, having previously been a historian looking into suicide rates in the military.
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Si said: “I know that I use humour as a protection mechanism to talk about it, but also to protect myself.”
It might sound odd to mix comedy with tragedy, but Si explains how comedy can be used to make sense of difficult topics.
He said: “Comedy allows people to laugh together. You can join in and laugh when you literally can’t do anything else.
“If someone else laughs, you’re more likely to laugh too and that can create a small level of connection.
“If you’re both doing the same thing at the same time, that can allow someone who’s so alone, so lost, to feel like they’re part of something.”
‘Jokes can lead to recovery and survival’
The show, called Laughing Lives, will feature six Glasgow comedians alongside Si, who will perform under his stage name “Buckaroo Bon-Si”: John Carruthers, Tez Baker, Jack Brookmyre, Sean Reid, Andrew Durning and Richard Tench.
Andrew Dunning (Image: Supplied) Tez Baker (Image: Supplied) There will also be a brief talk on the research Si’s Resume team is doing, as well as a raffle – with prizes including two tickets to see comedian Rob Beckett when he performs in Glasgow next year.
Si continued: “We’re not going to get up there and make jokes about suicide. We’re laughing with each other while supporting each other regarding suicide.
“Laughter is one of the mechanisms by which individuals can talk about something difficult. If you can make a joke about it, then that can lead to a conversation, and that can lead to recovery or survival.”
Laughing Lives will take place on Wednesday, December 11 from 7pm at Glasgow University Union Debates Chamber.
Tickets are free, with a suggested donation to Andy’s Man Club, a charity which works specifically around men’s suicide prevention.
All the proceeds from the event will go to Andy’s Man Club.
Anyone can contact Samaritans for free, 24/7, on 116 123, by emailing jo@samaritans.org or by visiting www.samaritans.org.
