A national men’s mental health support charity has released a new short film to raise awareness and encourage men to seek support.
The hard-hitting film uses cinematic techniques to help the viewer ‘feel’ the challenges that its central male character experiences while he struggles with metal health issues, and the routes to support he finds with Tough Enough To Care.
With three times as many men as women dying by suicide and only 36% of NHS talking therapy referrals being for men, the aim of this poignant film is to encourage more men to seek support. Launched in 2019 by ex-RAF Armourer Stuart Bratt from Dudley after losing two friends to suicide, Tough Enough To Care (TETC) provides mental health support for men and challenges the ‘man up’ culture which may prevent them seeking help.
The charity hosts peer support groups for men across the UK, including in Halesowen. TETC provides information and support to men and women through their social media and travels to nationwide events with their ‘Tough Truck’ to promote conversations about mental health. A beer mat campaign has inspired men all over the world to speak about their mental health.
In their latest project, TETC has partnered with Playmotion Visuals they have released a poignant short film showcasing the pain and suffering that comes with tackling mental health alone. It highlights the services available to men in this position, encouraging a shift in mindset – that men should no longer have to suffer in silence, or be expected to ‘man up’ when their world is crumbling.
The film features a real TETC support group and its members, TETC staff, the Tough Truck and the TETC rugby team The Flaming Unicorns.
The hard-hitting video aims to show the pain and suffering that mental health problems can cause and that support is out there for all.
Alex Bowdery, Director and Filmmaker said “To make this project authentic and relatable was incredibly challenging. We wanted to put the viewer inside the mind of our individual. What does it feel like to be in this position? Using cinematic techniques, we believe we have achieved just that – the sense that you can’t control what is going on around you, and how quickly that can spiral out of control.”
Mental ill health can be very tough, but TETC Founder and CEO, Stuart lives by the rule that they stand shoulder to shoulder as a community. He said: “Everyone in the film
is passionate about supporting our aims. The rugby players make themselves available on a
regular basis to play for our charity team, The Flaming Unicorns, helping to raise awareness for male mental health. The men taking part in the support group are all members and were all very excited to be a part of the project, knowing the difference our services can make.”
Watch the film
Tough Enough To Care – Supporting People, Not Labels from Playmotion on Vimeo.
Tough Enough To Care aim to be accessible to all. To get in touch:
- TETC website
- Facebook: ToughEnoughToCare
- Twitter: @ToughCare
- Instagram: @toughenoughtocare
- Email: info@toughenoughtocare.org
- Text: TOUGH to 85258