This session is open to anyone who wants to understand why so many men struggle to talk, ask for help, or even hint that something is wrong.

We hear the exact phrase all the time. Men do not talk. The reality is that many do try to talk, but they are not always heard. This session shines a light on what can go on inside a man’s head when life feels pointless and he believes the world might be better without him.

Alastair Baker is our MANUP? ambassador, and he is a solid bloke with a strange sense of humour that somehow makes even the darkest subjects feel human. He wrote a book about his experience, which should tell you he is not afraid of honesty. He even raised money for us by bungy jumping off a bridge, which makes the title of this talk hit even harder. What happened later in his life was not a stunt. It was a moment he believed was the only answer. Thankfully, he survived.

This talk is a first for MANUP? Talks. Alastair will take us through what led up to his jump, who he spoke to, who listened, who did not, and what was happening inside his head at the time. It is rare to hear from someone who acted on those thoughts and lived to explain the process clearly. His honesty gives us a chance to understand the mindset rather than judge it.

Across England and Wales, the male suicide rate remains stubbornly high. Men still account for about three quarters of all suicides. Many men who take their lives do not have contact with mental health services, and many of those who do were not fully listened to or believed. Professionals often ask why men reach crisis without warning. The truth is that there is usually a warning. It is just missed.

This session is about learning from someone who survived the jump, literally, and can explain why it made sense to him at the time. You will hear what he needed, what he could not say out loud, and what might help another man step back from that moment.

If someone is thinking about ending it, is it really the solution, or is something else being overlooked. Come and learn. It might make the difference for someone you know.