| Tough Enough To Care | In the UK, 1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem each year. As you read this
letter, it's likely that one or more people that you know are silently struggling with their
mental health. That person might even be you. Heartbreakingly, every 90 minutes, someone
dies by suicide in the UK, with 76% of these deaths being men. For every life lost, there are
80 to 100 attempts, each a cry for help that too often goes unanswered.
Tough Enough To Care was born out of a desperate need to change these devastating
statistics.
Our founder, Stu Bratt, knows all too well the toll that silence can take. Having spent his life
in male-dominated environments—ex-military, as a field service engineer, and a passionate
rugby player—he was immersed in the "Man Up" culture where feelings were buried deep.
Stu lost two friends to suicide within days of each other. They didn't know each other, and
their deaths were unrelated, but they shared a common struggle: they felt unable to talk or
seek help. Stu knew something had to change and, consequentially, Tough Enough To Care
was born.
To date we have supported over 6,000 people in the UK since the charities inception by
implementing a wide network of peer-to-peer support groups in the East and West
Midlands areas.
“When I thought all hope was lost, I found Tough Enough To Care through a social media
post and decided to give their support group a try. This group has changed my life. I now
have hope, support of a band of brothers and most of all, I am back to being a person I like.
This group has saved my life.”
Additionally we have partnered with SHOUT and fund a text helpline dedicated to our
service users that connects them directly to trained counsellors and mental health
professionals. We also deliver Mental Health First Aid training to ensure that people feel
confident enough to assist someone in crisis before it’s too late. | To support our vital support groups and help to fund our text helpline service which is free and confidential, connecting people to trained mental health volunteers. |
