Trigger warning: this article discusses suicide
There was a packed house at St Matthew’s Community Centre in Holbeck on Wednesday, World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September 2025) for a performance of Men’s Talk ahead of a visit from the Baton of Hope.
This powerful production was performed by six men with lived experience of mental health issues. The ensemble combined speech and movement to explore a range of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, PTSD; look at their roots for each man and explode the myths that poor mental health means you are weak and need to ‘man up’.
From childhood games to jibes on the assembly line the scenes played out leading to feelings of isolation and self-loathing. It didn’t shy away to reality of self-harm and suicide.
A powerful section went through the statistics of fuel debt, disability benefits and more, each topic interspersed with an ironic chorus of “We are the reckless, the feckless, the underserving poor; We’ve got our hands out, we’re demanding more.”
The over-riding message of performance was the importance of talking to someone when things aren’t going well.
In the question and answer afterwards it was explained that every episode depicted had happened to the men, but that the stories were mixed up so that no one had to tell their own story as that would be too difficult, too triggering, for amateur performers.
Asked about the process they explained that rehearsals took place in a safe, non-judgemental space.
“Dealing with performing in public helps you deal with other difficult issues in your life” explained one of the cast.
“It brings you out of yourself” said another “and it’s empowering to know that you’re making a difference.”
As we waited for the arrival of the Baton of Hope, I spoke to two women who would be carrying on its next legs across the city.
Lindsay Atkinson-Buckley told me:
“My brother unfortunately took his own life seven years ago and I also work as a Coroner’s Officer so I spend my days helping families so it was important to me to get involved.
“It’s lovely to see so many people come together. I think it’s really important to have these kinds of events where families and friends can come together, because I think it’s such a difficult form of grief, it’s like no other. When you meet others that have experienced it you do form bonds and you form a little community which offers more support when the events stop, when the anniversaries aren’t there, but the days are still hard.
“This is a really lovely area for me (to be carrying the baton). It’s where we used to park with my brother and my grandad to walk to Leeds United matches when we were kids and my great grandma used to live in the flats that used to be over the road, so it’s the perfect area that my brother would have loved.”
Caroline Lipman explained:
“My daughter Alice who died when she was 20, three years ago. She was a young trans woman awaiting healthcare. We all know what our government is doing to trans people and limiting their rights and their access to care, so I’m walking to raise awareness of the impact of not acknowledging trans existence.”
When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
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