08/07/2026
Mental health is something I’ve found myself thinking about a lot recently.
A client was in the studio a few weeks ago and, as often happens when you’re sat together for hours, the conversation drifted onto life, struggles, and mental health. It’s 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 someone’s day, week, or even their life?
As a tattoo artist, I’m 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 what’s going on in their lives, while others carry battles that you’d never know existed. It’s 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.
“Men only receive their flowers at their funeral.”
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 they’re gone, but how often do we tell them what they mean to us while they’re still here? How often do we tell a friend we’re 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 I’d 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 doesn’t have a look.
It doesn’t 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 “I’m alright” could be struggling.
Sometimes people don’t 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 isn’t seen as weakness.
As individuals, we can be kinder. We can listen more. We can ask the question “How are you really doing?” 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. That’s 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 you’re 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 you’re reading this and you’re 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.
We’re also very happy to announce that I have been chatting to members of Andy’s man club on hosting another night at Checkmate which will be announced very soon!
Look after yourselves, look after each other, and remember…
You don’t have to carry everything on your own and we’re always a message away. ❤️
- Danny
