Dave Colvin

Pull up a chair, lads. Let’s talk about something we don’t talk about enough.

See that guy above you? 👆

I’ve been through some pretty dark times myself. Times when things have felt fucking heavy and I’ve not really known how to deal with it or talk about it.

I’m lucky to have some fucking great friends who check in on me, ask how I’m really doing, and are there when I need them.

But it got me thinking about how many men don’t have that.

Especially men in their 40s.

Relationships falling apart.
Money and work pressure.
Kids growing up.
Loneliness.
Anxiety.
Health problems.
Feeling like life hasn’t turned out how we imagined.

And the numbers are brutal.

In Germany, 7,414 men died by suicide in 2024 — 71.5% of all suicide deaths.

398 of them were men aged 45–49.

In England and Wales, men’s suicide rate was more than three times higher than women’s in 2024.

These aren’t just statistics.

They’re someone’s mate. Someone’s dad. Someone’s brother. Someone’s son.

And the bloke who’s struggling rarely looks like he’s struggling.

He might be the funniest guy in the room.
Still going to work.
Still coaching the kids.
Still saying:

“I’m fine, mate.”

Maybe he isn’t.

So check on your mates.

Don’t ask once. Ask twice.

Call him.
Go see him.
Sit with him.

“No seriously mate. How are you REALLY doing?”

Because sometimes that conversation is the difference between someone suffering alone and someone realising they don’t have to.

We tell men to be strong.

Maybe sometimes being strong means being the mate who notices.

Don’t wait for the funeral to wish you’d made that call.

Check in.
Look out for each other.
We fucking need to. ❤️