I’m stepping into the ring again this month for another White Collar fight because men’s mental health deserves more than silence.

Earlier this year my eldest lad woke up on Easter Monday with facial paralysis. He was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy, the most severe level. Zero movement on the right side of his face. He can’t eat or drink properly. He can’t shut his eye and has to wear an eye patch. Born at just 26 weeks, he’s faced more than his fair share already, but this has hit different. At 22 it’s been a huge knock to his confidence and a real battle for his mental health. I’m proud of how he’s handled it but I see the struggle, I feel it, and I’ve lost sleep thinking about the quiet wars men fight behind closed doors.

I know there are JustGiving pages out there raising money for people facing terminal illness, families dealing with unimaginable loss, and causes that make wearing an eye patch to work or the gym feel like a first world problem. But mental health struggles are real too, and they don’t always look dramatic from the outside.

Suicide remains the single biggest killer of men aged 20 to 49 in the UK. It’s a brutal truth that cuts across age, background, and circumstance. Darkness can hit when you least expect it. It doesn’t discriminate. Some people won’t understand it and some might think it’s just normal life. I spent 30 years wondering what was wrong with me, not realising it wasn’t something I had to live with. But you can get help. You just have to speak up.

This isn’t about my fight. It’s about making noise for the dads, sons, brothers and mates who’ve been told to man up instead of speak out. No silence. No stigma. Save lives.

Real talk — by simply addressing it you could help someone step out of the dark. Asking for help is a sign of strength, never weakness.

If you can support, share, or even just check in on someone, thank you. Every step counts.

Brooksy 👊🏻🙏🏻