“It’s good to talk”
Four simple words made famous by actor Bob Hoskins that became one of Britain’s most memorable public awareness messages. Decades later, those words remain just as vital.
Talking was seen as weakness for men in the 1980s
For generations, many men were taught that strength meant silence. Growing up in Britain during the 1980s, talking openly about fear, anxiety, stress, or emotional struggles was often viewed as a weakness rather than a normal part of being human.
The message was clear: keep your head down, provide for your family, get on with life, and don’t complain.
Mental health was rarely discussed openly. Anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and other struggles were often hidden away because many people feared judgment or believed they simply had to “get on with it.”
The phrase “stiff upper lip” became deeply embedded in the national identity. While resilience and perseverance are important qualities, the downside was that many people – especially men – felt they had to carry heavy burdens entirely alone.
Today men’s mental health is discussed more openly
Today, thankfully, that conversation has changed. We now live in a society where mental health is discussed more openly in workplaces, schools, communities, sports clubs, and online spaces. Charities, campaigners, and people with lived experience have challenged outdated attitudes and encouraged men to speak up.
Yet, despite the progress we have made, far too many men still struggle in silence.
As someone who has experienced anxiety and panic attacks, I know personally how overwhelming those feelings can become. My own journey has shown me the importance of understanding, support, and finding the right people to talk to.
As an actor, writer, and director, I have experienced the incredible highs that creativity brings, but I have also experienced the uncertainty that comes with working in an industry where opportunities can be unpredictable. The creative industries bring pressure, rejection, and periods of quiet. Like many people, financial worries, family responsibilities, and the constant pressure to keep moving forward can weigh heavily on mental wellbeing.
Finding support through No Panic – the national charity supporting people affected by panic attacks, phobias, and anxiety disorders – was a turning point for me. They helped me understand my own experiences and provided practical tools to manage anxiety. The biggest lesson was that asking for help is not a sign of weakness – it is a sign that you want to move forward.
The Man Hug podcast
One of the people leading the charge to change the conversation around men’s mental health is Dean McShane, Mental Health Senior Lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University and co-host of The Man Hug podcast.
I had the privilege of appearing on The Man Hug podcast to talk openly about my own experiences with anxiety and men’s mental health. It was a powerful conversation because it showed exactly why platforms like this matter: they create a safe space where men can share their stories and realize they are not alone.
The Man Hug podcast was created by Dean McShane alongside colleagues Conleth Kelly, Dan Cooper, and Ian Pierce Hayes.
Dean explained how the idea began:
“In March 2023, myself and colleagues Conleth Kelly, Dan Cooper, and Ian Pierce Hayes were talking about how to get more boys and men into nursing (as we have all been nurses, along with being lecturers for a very long time). During that conversation, we touched on the number of males we had known between us who had taken their own lives, including healthcare professionals.
So, we thought of a way in which we could try and break the stigma, but also provide information on direct support so that men are given options for treatment and connection with others.”
Normalising conversations around mental health
The first episode launched in April 2023, and the podcast has continued with the same clear purpose: to normalize conversations around mental health, share lived experiences, and signpost people toward help.
As Dean explains:
“We have followed the same formula in every episode, which is to have a guest with lived experience talk about their own journey (to promote that mental health difficulties can happen to everyone, but there is hope), then we the co-hosts ‘normalize the conversation’ by talking about data, stats, research, and brain health. Then we bring in a charity or organization so that people can learn of open-door support for either themselves or to signpost others.”
The impact of The Man Hug has been significant and immediate:
“We didn’t realize the impact that the podcast had made until 12 months after our first episode when we launched an evaluative questionnaire. We could see from direct feedback that men had gone and accessed support, women had the confidence to have conversations about men they were concerned about, and it was helping to educate people working within healthcare services.
Our biggest impact came directly from a man who told us that if it wasn’t for episode one (all about signposting and how to access support via the Hub of Hope), he simply wouldn’t be here today. Knowing that it has helped many people is why we have no plans to stop anytime soon.”
The cultural shift and unfinished business
Looking back at the Britain of the 1980s and 1990s, mental health was surrounded by deep misunderstanding and fear.
Dean McShane believes society has made major strides in changing those attitudes:
“I think the biggest shift and change we have had in society is about mental health, mental illness, and mental health treatment. Even when I started my career working in mental health 25 years ago, many people still thought that if they struggled with their mental health they would be ‘locked up in an asylum’ – simply due to the fact that their only knowledge of psychiatry was Jack Nicholson’s experience in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
The biggest UK campaign we had was in the early 2000s with the ‘Time to Change‘ campaign backed by the National Lottery and Comic Relief, in which celebrities such as Stephen Fry, David Beckham, Frank Bruno, and Ruby Wax all spoke so openly and honestly about living with a diagnosis. This shifted society’s view almost to, ‘Well, if they have got it, it is okay for me to have it too,’ greatly helping to reduce stigma and give people the knowledge that they can safely access support.”
While society has moved forward, Dean emphasizes that there is still much work to do:
“I still think we need further positive campaigns on conditions such as Schizophrenia, which still carries many misconceptions, and further public health campaigns on Anorexia Nervosa, which has the highest fatality rate of all mental health conditions in the UK. Plus, about 1 in 4 people with an eating disorder in the UK are male, yet men’s eating disorders are often underdiagnosed and undertreated.”
These conversations remind us that mental health is not a single, blanket issue. It affects people in vastly different ways, and everyone’s experience is unique.
The healing power of creativity and connection
For many people, recovery is not just about professional medical support; it is also about connection, creativity, daily routine, and finding healthy ways to express what we are feeling inside.
Throughout history, creativity has helped people process emotions, tell stories, and connect with others. The arts – including theatre, music, writing, film, and visual art – provide a powerful outlet for feelings that are sometimes difficult to express through words alone.
The Mental Health Foundation has highlighted how creative activities support wellbeing by helping individuals express themselves, build self-confidence, and foster community connection. For those experiencing anxiety, stress, or social isolation, being part of a creative community provides a vital sense of belonging and purpose.
As an actor, I have seen firsthand how storytelling brings people together. Whether performing on stage, writing a screenplay, or developing a character, the arts allow us to explore the shared human experience. Creativity does not replace professional medical support, but it is an essential pillar of maintaining long-term psychological wellbeing. It gives people a voice. It creates connection. And sometimes, it allows someone to express what they cannot yet say out loud.
Finding the right support & moving forward
One of the most important lessons I have learned is that not everyone in your life will understand what you are experiencing – and that is okay. The key is finding the right people, mentors, and organizations who do.
Support comes in many forms. It might be speaking to a trusted friend, joining a local peer-support group, reaching out to a charity, seeking professional clinical help, or getting involved in creative activities.
Physical health and daily routine also play a critical role. When we experience severe anxiety and stress, our nervous system becomes overwhelmed. Looking after our bodies through movement, good nutrition, proper sleep, and daily structure helps us regulate that nervous system, build resilience, and regain a sense of control.
- Small, deliberate changes add up:
- Going for a daily walk
- Joining a local gym or club
- Reconnecting with people
- Creating something new
- Simply starting an honest conversation
It’s good to talk
As Bob Hoskins famously reminded us: “It’s good to talk.” Those words remain just as relevant today as when they were first spoken.
The story of men’s mental health is one of progress, but the work is far from finished. The answer is not simply telling men to talk more; it is about actively creating safe, accessible spaces where men feel comfortable enough to open up.
Grassroots organizations like The Man Hug, No Panic, Andy’s Man Club, and Men’s Sheds remind us that behind every statistic is a human being with a story worth hearing.
Talking about mental health is not a weakness. It is one of the strongest things a man can do.
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