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Mid-life Men: the mental health podcast
Have you ever felt like you’ve become lost in your own life?
Many men struggle to talk about their problems and mental health and grew up believing that to do can be perceived as a sign of weakness or failure. There is also a lack of open discussion in society around men’s mental health, especially aimed at mid-life men. As a result, at times many men can feel alone and lost in their own lives.
In this podcast series, I talk to mid-life men about their stories; the challenges, the turning points, and the support received to help them find their way so that others who may be suffering in silence or don’t know what to do next, realise that they are not alone and there is help available.
Stories will cover a whole range of challenges faced by mid-life men mainly relating to the causes of mental health issues including feelings of isolation, depression, job dissatisfaction, addiction, PTSD, and long-term illness.
The podcast is NOT a replacement for professional support and we signpost to organisations and their contact details by episode.
If you have a story you would like to share or any feedback on the podcasts, please email me: midlifemen01@gmail.com.
Mid-life Men: the mental health podcast
The Men We Think Are Fine... But Aren't, with Alfie Ruffell
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
From the outside, many of the men Alfie Ruffell knew looked like they were doing just fine. They were working, laughing with their mates and getting on with life. But behind the smiles, some were carrying struggles no one else could see. Several of them would later take their own lives.
After experiencing his own breakdown and losing close friends to suicide, Alfie realised that awareness alone isn't enough. The real challenge is reaching the men who never say they're struggling in the first place.
In this conversation we explore why so many men stay silent, what finally pushed Alfie to ask for help, and why he believes the current approach to men's mental health often misses those who are most at risk.
Rather than offering easy answers, Alfie shares the practical lessons he's learned through building Speak and working with men in one of the UK's toughest industries: construction. We also discuss recovery, accountability, community, the importance of being heard, and why small changes can become the first steps towards rebuilding a life.
In this episode you'll learn:
- Why outward success can hide overwhelming internal pressure.
- Why many men never tell anyone they're struggling.
- What Alfie learned from losing friends to suicide.
- How speaking openly changed the course of his own life.
- Why trust, not just awareness, is essential before many men will ask for help.
- What genuine recovery can look like beyond simply getting through the day.
- Small practical steps that can help when life feels overwhelming.
If you've ever wondered why some men never reach out, or if you've ever found yourself pretending everything is fine when it isn't, this conversation offers insight, hope and a reminder that no one has to carry everything alone.
If you'd like to learn more about Alfie and Speak, visit the website https://speak-uk.com, where you'll find practical mental health support, resources, information about campaigns and how to join the SPEAK community.
