Dawn Bates

Steve Whittle

MANUP by Tough to Talk is a no-nonsense look into the silent war that countless men across the globe are fighting with their mental health. These are their stories in their own words.

Society sits back while men are grappling silently with their biological, emotional, psychological, past trauma, current life events and gendered issues. These men do not get the help they need because to them they do not have a mental health problem, they have financial problems, an addiction, relationship problems, health problems, and past traumas.

Is it any wonder these factors combined turn out to be the main causes of suicide behaviours? Every 40 seconds another life is lost to suicide: 75% of these are men. This isn't just a statistic; it's a call to action, a demand for change. Men are being either ignored or emasculated by both society and the narrative around toxic masculinity.

Traditionally men have been told to man up, not to cry or show emotions, and to be the tough guy. Stoicism has masked severe mental health issues, and the consensus has been one of defining masculinity as something that is toxic in its very being. These men are our fathers, brothers, husbands, sons, friends, colleagues, and peers.

With the rise of toxic feminism, more women in the workplace, and a greater awareness of gender inequality, men are constantly having to re-define and re-discover who they are allowed to be, have to be and should be.

Men’s mental health is fast becoming the most prevalent social issue of our time, and in this raw, engaging and provocative book, men of various ages, nation cultures, ethnicities and socio-economic groups share their own struggles with masculinity.

Curated by Steve Whittle, Founder of the Tough to Talk Men’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Charity, this book helps break the stigma, challenge the negative narratives and raise much needed funds for suicide awareness and prevention.

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