08/07/2026
Mental health is something Iâve found myself thinking about a lot recently.
A client was in the studio a few weeks ago and, as often happens when youâre sat together for hours, the conversation drifted onto life, struggles, and mental health. Itâs a subject that has always interested me, not because I have all the answers, but because I genuinely want to understand it better.
What causes someone to struggle? What helps someone heal? What difference can a few kind words make? Can a simple conversation change the direction of someoneâs day, week, or even their life?
As a tattoo artist, Iâm fortunate enough to spend hours face-to-face with people from all walks of life. Men, women, young, old, successful, struggling, confident, anxious. Some openly talk about whatâs going on in their lives, while others carry battles that youâd never know existed. Itâs taught me one important thing: you can never truly tell what somebody is going through just by looking at them.
One thing I heard recently and that hass stuck with me ever since.
âMen only receive their flowers at their funeral.â
The more I thought about it, the sadder it became.
For many men, praise, appreciation, encouragement and recognition are things they rarely hear. We celebrate people once theyâre gone, but how often do we tell them what they mean to us while theyâre still here? How often do we tell a friend weâre proud of them? How often do we check in with someone without needing a reason?
Last year, we held a mental health night at Checkmate Studios and the response honestly overwhelmed us.
People came through the doors who I knew personally. People Iâd spoken to countless times. People who seemed happy, confident and completely fine on the surface.
Yet many of them were carrying struggles that nobody around them knew about.
That evening was a reminder that mental health doesnât have a look.
It doesnât wear a sign.
The person making everyone laugh could be struggling.
The person posting happy photos online could be struggling.
The person who always says âIâm alrightâ could be struggling.
Sometimes people donât need solutions. Sometimes they simply need someone willing to listen.
So what can we do?
As a business, we can create environments where people feel comfortable talking. We can check in on our staff, our clients, our friends and family. We can create spaces where vulnerability isnât seen as weakness.
As individuals, we can be kinder. We can listen more. We can ask the question âHow are you really doing?â and actually wait for the answer. We can send that message, make that phone call, invite someone for a coffee, (vimto for me) or simply remind people that they matter.
And as a community, we can stop treating mental health as something that only deserves attention when somebody reaches crisis point.
Support should exist before that moment.
Conversations should happen before that moment.
Help should be available before that moment.
Mental health has affected me personally, and it has affected members of my family and friends too. Thatâs one of the reasons this subject means so much to me. I know how difficult life can feel at times, and I know how powerful it can be when somebody simply takes the time to listen.
If youâre struggling, please know that talking is not weakness. Asking for help is not weakness. Reaching out is not weakness.
In fact, it takes real strength.
And if youâre reading this and youâre doing okay, maybe take a moment today to check in on somebody else.
You never know how much that message, conversation or gesture might mean.
For anyone needing support locally, there are some fantastic charities, groups and organisations across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre doing incredible work every day. If you know of any local groups, charities or support networks that deserve recognition, please tag them below so others can find them.
Weâre also very happy to announce that I have been chatting to members of Andyâs man club on hosting another night at Checkmate which will be announced very soon!
Look after yourselves, look after each other, and rememberâŚ
You donât have to carry everything on your own and weâre always a message away. â¤ď¸
- Danny
