Danni Skinner || From house renovations, to a wedding, to a funeral and life as a young widow

*Please be aware that this episode (and blurb below) discusses death by drowning, life as a young widow, depression and grief.

Danni Skinner is a kind, fun-loving and loved person. If you were standing next to her in the supermarket you would never know that she was widowed at just 27 when her husband Brad, at just 31 years old, passed in a tragic accident. Danni and Brad were together for 9 and a half years. Danni received their professional wedding photos just a few days after Brad’s funeral. Looking at them without Brad ‘was just so bloody cruel’, Danni says, but she also cherishes them and says that they now bring more happiness when she looks at them.

4 years on and it has been a journey for Danni (and Brad’s loved ones), to say the least. There’s lots of things that make grief tough. One example in this instance is that Danni and Brad’s family still don’t have his final death certificate and this is due to a possible inquest with a judge and jury to change rules and regulations around hookah sets, so they will be safer to use. Not having the death certificate is something that makes it difficult for Danni to have some closure.

Danni speaks so fondly of Brad and says that it felt like he was ‘her’ person and she was his, that they were like soulmates and had that kind of rare, special love. Danni said “I’m so lucky and grateful for our love story. He was amazing. An infectious person that could light every room he walked in. He was funny, that was his thing, and he was just loved by everyone. A real character with so many amazing qualities. He will be forever missed.”

Something that Danni didn’t get to mention in our chat was that she has upcoming travel plans next year around Australia, with Ernie! She wants to get a van with a bed in the back, and do some travelling. Danni then has a little exciting surprise in store as she is planning on also opening up a new little business in Cummins in January.

We thank Danni for showing us that there is still hope to make a new life for yourself, and you can bring yourself out of the depths of despair.

If you are concerned about someone who is struggling and finding it difficult to see their way out of grief or mental challenges, then we highly recommend Question. Persuade. Refer. QPR training, which Emma and Lain talked about in the first episode of Season 1. You can access the training at https://www.countrysaphn.com.au/mental-health/suicide-prevention-services/question-persuade-refer-qpr-online/ Type in the code CSA to take the training free of cost. This training is funded by Country SA PHN. We thank them for their support in the Suicide Prevention space- an area we believe is important to put energy towards.

We hope you enjoy this episode. Remember to subscribe so you don't miss any of the future MFEP+ME episodes!

*MFEP+ME is a project created within the program Mentally Fit EP (MFEP). MFEP aims to empower people to take charge of their lives and to build mentally fit, connected communities. We believe mental health is everyone's business!

Thank you to our NFP organisation, West Coast Youth and Community Support, for making MFEP a possibility! A rock star organisation with rock star staff!

A BIG thank you to the Cummins and Port Lincoln Community Banks for supporting Mentally Fit EP and this podcast through their grant programs. A special thank you to Elke Hill and Sally Bronca for choosing the MFEP+ME podcast as an important initiative that was worth investing their staff sponsorship in.

Helpline Numbers and EP Counselling services are pinned to the top of the Mentally Fit EP Facebook page

Lifeline 131 114

Regional Access 1300 032 186

Suicide Call Back 1300 659 467