17/09/2025
“I’m not going to go to my mates and say I am crying every day. I want to kill myself. You just don’t do it.”
- Ricky Hatton
Heartbreaking words from one of the strongest men you could ever meet. A warrior in the ring, a champion in life. Yet even he carried demons he couldn’t defeat.
Please make no mistake - we are not winning the fight for men’s mental health. It’s getting worse.
The truth:
* Men take their own lives at almost 3x the rate of women.
* In England & Wales, male su***de reached 17.4 per 100,000 in 2023 - the highest in 20+ years.
* Middle-aged men remain most at risk.
* In the US 15% of men have no close friends.
Ricky’s cause of death is unknown. His years of battling his mental health are well documented.
People like Ricky are especially at risk. Being complex, driven, unique - it sets you apart, but it can also leave you isolated.
The higher the standards you set, the fewer people will “get” you. And that loneliness can be devastating.
Men today are struggling to know what being a man even means. For too long, we’ve been told strength means silence. But that definition is killing us.
We need a new masculinity:
* Courage in asking for help.
* Strength in vulnerability.
* Pride in speaking the truth.
Please know this. There will be a man, likely many men in your life fighting a battle in their heads they would be embarrassed to tell you about. I’ve been there.
Ricky’s words must spark action.
Let’s carry his truth forward. Let’s change what it means to be a man. And may a great champion rest in piece.
