TV and radio presenter Tyler West has bravely opened up about a traumatic childhood event that led him to attempt suicide, urging others to speak about their mental health struggles.
A Childhood Shattered by Violence
The 29-year-old broadcaster became emotional as he recounted witnessing a murder outside his family home when he was just 14 years old. Speaking on the podcast We Need To Talk with Paul C Brunson, West described how the violent attack, which he watched from his bedroom window, "changed my world forever."
He recalled returning from school to his council estate and seeing "local alcoholics" arguing. The situation escalated horrifically. "One of the two men had a 12 inch kitchen knife in his hand," West said. "He cut and slashed the man's neck open, and the man was holding it, and has then fallen onto the ground in the middle of the road."
West explained that his mother, a nurse, called the police and then rushed outside with towels to help. He vividly remembers dragging her back inside for safety. The scene was surreal. "He was wearing an England shirt and it was just, it was a white English shirt, just covered in red. It didn't feel real. It felt like something from a horror movie."
The Long Shadow of PTSD
The aftermath of that day instilled severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that shaped his teenage years and beyond. West developed debilitating rituals and fears, convinced that not performing them would lead to harm.
"I couldn't open my blind," he revealed. "Every single morning I get out of bed, I had to make my bed because otherwise I was convinced something bad would happen to me. I couldn't use a knife and fork."
He avoided the side of the street where the attack happened, could not watch violent scenes in films, and became hyper-vigilant in environments involving alcohol or drugs. "I'm convinced somebody is going to die, I'm convinced there's going to be a fight," he said. This anxiety transformed him into a "protector," always the first to intervene in conflicts to prevent escalation.
West also disclosed that the murder was allegedly over a "£20 bag of cocaine," a senseless loss that affected his entire community.
The Breaking Point and a Path to Strength
For years, West bottled up his trauma, a decision he now calls "probably the worst decision I ever made." The pressure built until it became "unavoidable." This culminated in a suicide attempt, a moment he described as "really tough."
He recalled finding himself on a bridge in the early hours of the morning, feeling at his lowest. "I felt so low, and I felt like, I can't stop thinking about this. I just want to switch off for a second." A single car passing and beeping its horn broke his trance, prompting him to return home.
Today, West sees his past struggles as his "biggest strength." He credits talking openly about his experiences as the key to his recovery. "They push me to where I go today, like they keep me going further," he stated. While the graphic image of the murder will never leave him, he has learned to live with it, supported by his partner Molly who helps him avoid triggering content.
If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.
