Blue Soul Shoes by Ashley Riley
77% of men have suffered with common mental health symptoms like anxiety, stress or depression.
40% of men have never spoken to anyone about their mental health.
Three quarters of all suicides in the UK are men.
Yes but it happens to ‘other’ men doesn’t it?
You know those shy, uncomfortable, fragile and lacking in confidence men.
At the start of 2023 as an outgoing, comfortable, loud, business owning confident man I started suffering from a low mood and had a brief panic attack.
Within a month it turned in to life stopping anxiety and deep, dark depression.
Living with depression and anxiety, living in a pair of blue soul shoes is life limiting. It is awful.
But you can come out the other side. You can do something about it.
I hope by sharing my story I can help others.
'Part of my therapy has been learning what being a man really is.' article in Business MK magazine (3 minute read) Read Here
'Peterborough SMEs to hear story of ‘deep dark’ depression from national mental health campaigner.' article in Peterborough Telegraph (2 minute read) Read Here
'Out of date definitions of masculinity responsible for shocking rise in violence against women' article in Chronicle and Echo (4 minute read) Read Here
'A mental health advocate, shared with Suffolk business.' article in the East Anglian Daily Times (2 minute read) Read Here.
‘I thought this type of thing didn’t happen to people like me’ - article in All Things Business (5 minute read) Read Here.
'The headset helps my depression so I can be a Dad again' - article on the BBC (2 minute read) Read Here
'Park Run was a vital part of my recovery' - article in Park Run UK newsletter (2 minute read) Read Here
'Northants Dad: 'Headset has helped my depression' - interview on BBC Northampton (5 minute listen) Listen Here
‘The headset helps my depression so I can be a dad again’ - article from New Vision for Mental Health Read Here
'I Didn’t Think it Would Happen to Me.' - interview with All Things Business (60 minute watch) Watch Here
'Persevilience' - a real life story - article from Vine Counselling website (5 minute read) Read Here