Talkabout Solutions

01/03/2026

The Coach Who Secretly Wanted to Die: Paul Pook's Incredible Fight for Survival 🏉💪

When Ireland clinched the Grand Slam in 2009, Paul Pook should have been on top of the world. As their fitness coach, the former and player was the only Welshman celebrating in Cardiff that day. But behind the scenes, he was fighting a terrifying battle.

While the team partied in Dublin the next day, Pook was hiding in his hotel room. For over 20 years, his life has been overshadowed by depression and suicidal thoughts, a struggle he describes with raw honesty as being a functioning suicidalist for much of that time.

Pook’s glittering career saw him help athletes win Olympic and Paralympic golds, and he even received a congratulatory letter from Vladimir Putin. Yet, during flights to major events, he found himself wishing the plane would crash just to end his pain. His mask of success hid a dark reality that eventually forced him out of high-performance sport and onto benefits.

Now, Pook has discovered the root of his torment: brain damage from repeated concussions during his playing days. Brain scans revealed a haemorrhage that disrupted his emotional circuitry, explaining why 14 different medications failed to cure him.

Refusing to let the darkness win, Pook has launched Tackle Su***de CIC, a global initiative supporting contact sport athletes. Throughout the Six Nations, he’s raising awareness by completing solidarity tackles for every point scored in the tournament—mirroring the tragic statistic that 125 people die by su***de in the UK every week.

Today, Pook says he has never felt better. His journey from stacking shelves and living on benefits to finding peace is a powerful reminder: no matter how dark it gets, there is always hope.

If you or someone you know is struggling, reaching out and asking 'are you considering taking your own life?' could be the first step to saving them.

***dePrevention ***de

27/02/2026

Talkabout what if it all works out.Back yourself!

25/02/2026

25/02/2026

Join us at the start, and improve men's health and wellbeing in the area.

Revolutionising Men’s Health in Gwent ⚡

Join us at the launch of the EmpowerMen Project. This isn't just another health initiative; it’s a collaborative movement built on kindness, teamwork, and creativity.

Whether you’re an individual, a community leader, or a local business, join us to discover how we’re bridging the gap in men’s wellbeing across Gwent.

What’s coming to Gwent:

🗣️ 25 Topical Talks hosted across the region.
🛠️ The Men’s Wellbeing Toolkit (practical resources that work).
💬 Direct access to professional talking therapies.
Be part of the change from day one.

📅 Register for the Webinar here: https://empowermengwent.eventbrite.co.uk

24/02/2026

Weekly group meeting information

Date and time - Thursday 26th Feb 6:30pm until 8:30pm

Venue - The Moose, Lower Coronation Street,Tredegar NP22 3JE ( Behind Tredegar Police Station )

What to expect - These weekly meetings are a good place to come for a chat, cuppa and to give or receive some peer to peer support if needed, this is a safe and non judgemental place where you can open up as much or as little as you like, even if you just want to take in conversations that’s absolutely fine.

Forming friendships is a byproduct of these meetings as over the course of time you get to know each other on a personal level and we find sometimes that we open up more to each other than we do to our family members.

Free refreshments as always ☕️

Please come along and be part of an amazing group of men 👍

24/02/2026

Revolutionising Men’s Health in Gwent ⚡

Join us at the launch of the EmpowerMen Project. This isn't just another health initiative; it’s a collaborative movement built on kindness, teamwork, and creativity.

Whether you’re an individual, a community leader, or a local business, join us to discover how we’re bridging the gap in men’s wellbeing across Gwent.

What’s coming to Gwent:
• 🗣️ 25 Topical Talks hosted across the region.
• 🛠️ The Men’s Wellbeing Toolkit (practical resources that work).
• 💬 Direct access to professional talking therapies.

Be part of the change from day one.

18 March 2026 | 1700-1830

📅 Register for the Webinar here: https://empowermengwent.eventbrite.co.uk

22/02/2026

Tackling Su***de .su***de raising the profile with .A committed collaborative approach to addressing a huge societal issue.Coupled with a very positive environment,which the family enjoyed being part of too,including on the car journey there why we were going .My wonderful granddaughter the only female tackling the pad in the sea today.What a woman!

20/02/2026

Talkabout making time.What are you currently missing,either within you,or from those that matter? Make time to ensure that you invest in the person that you intend to be,and not only you,but those around you benefit too.