Why is it so hard for men to say, "I'm not okay"?

In this longer, deeply personal episode of Tickety Boo, we explore the unspoken rules many boys grow up with.

"Big boys don't cry."
"Man up."
"Get on with it."

Messages that seem harmless at the time can quietly shape an entire lifetime of carrying everything alone.

Andy and Phil share the internal experience of what it can feel like to be a man trying to hold everything together, while Iona speaks powerfully about the impact of losing her brother to suicide and what it's like for the people left behind.

Together, we talk about:

• Where men learn to hide their emotions
• Why vulnerability can feel so unsafe
• The pressure to be the provider, the protector, and the strong one
• What happens when life becomes too heavy to carry alone
• Why so many men reach crisis point before they ever ask for help
• What families, friends, and workplaces often don't see

This isn't about blaming anyone.

It's about understanding why silence has become normal for so many men—and why that silence is costing lives.

Some parts of this conversation are difficult.
Some are heartbreaking.

But if it helps even one person realise they don't have to carry everything on their own, then it's a conversation worth having.

If this episode resonates with you, please share it with someone who might need to hear it. Sometimes a simple conversation can make more difference than we realise.

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