How can we better support our young men?

Yesterday we were met with the heart-breaking news that Ricky Hatton has died. His battles with mental health were well documented, and Jake Humphrey’s post captures the tragedy of a man who could fight in the ring but was left fighting alone outside of it.

Richard John Hatton, was a British professional boxer who passed away on 14 September 2025 (age 46 years).

We keep having conversations about men’s mental health — yet the system itself isn’t shifting.

Zoom out and you see the cracks everywhere:

▪️ support services overstretched,

▪️ schools unequipped to teach boys emotional resilience,

▪️ communities fragile and divided,

▪️ and masculinity still defined by silence.

Last week I asked Winston Goode a question that sits heavy on me today:

how are we, as a community that cares, making steps to support our young men?

His response was powerful: 

It means surrounding boys with consistent care, positive role models, and spaces where vulnerability is not seen as a weakness but a bridge to connection. Communities too can step in with compassion and presence, so boys can begin to see themselves through the lens of love.

That’s the work ahead.

Ricky’s passing is a reminder that awareness is not enough.

If we want to save lives, we need systemic change — and that starts with building environments where boys are safe and empowered to speak their truth.

As a mother of two boys, I am deeply committed to this work.

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