“It’s scary to be vulnerable.. but it makes things better” The billboard campaign breaking the silence on men’s mental health

This week, as the world marks Men’s Mental Health Week, Manchester is doing something bold, beautiful, and deeply human: putting men’s emotions in the spotlight.

Across one of Europe’s largest digital billboards, just outside Manchester City Centre, messages of love, support, and solidarity are lighting up The Manchester Screen.

They aren’t slogans written by advertisers or polished marketing teams. They’re real words from real people: sons, brothers, dads, mates, who are breaking the silence around men’s mental health.

The force behind the project is Karl Considine, a Manchester local who knows first-hand just how heavy silence can be.

“My mental health has often felt like a challenge,” Karl said. “Over the years, I’ve been diagnosed with Depression, Anxiety, complex PTSD and ADHD. There’s a lot going on. For a long time, I used alcohol to self-medicate. At the darkest times, I experienced suicidal thoughts. I know how quietly and powerfully that kind of pain can take hold.”

But instead of letting that silence win, Karl decided to turn his pain into a platform.

He’s partnered with The Manchester Screen to showcase one powerful message a day throughout Men’s Mental Health Week (June 9th to the 15th), each one submitted by members of the public via social media.

The idea is simple, but really powerful. Share a message of hope for the men in your life. Whether it’s a shoutout to a struggling friend, a tribute to a lost loved one, or just a reminder that someone out there is listening, these words could end up 40 feet high.

“It might seem small,” Karl said. “But in that moment, when someone sees that message and feels a flicker of recognition, a moment of connection, it matters. It could be the first step toward reaching out. The first step to staying.”

Men’s Mental Health Week

Three in four suicides in the UK are men. It’s a heartbreaking statistic, but these are so much more than numbers. It’s someone’s partner. Someone’s son. Someone’s best mate.

And yet, even as society becomes more open about mental health, many men still find it nearly impossible to say, “I’m struggling.”

Karl knows that feeling well. “I spent years battling addiction, not realising that my refusal to talk was tied up in shame and fear. And I don’t think that’s unusual. So many men feel embarrassed to open up, like they’re supposed to be stoic, strong, silent.”

The problem isn’t that men don’t suffer. It’s that they don’t feel safe enough to speak. That’s why this project is so important. By projecting these messages, literally and figuratively, Karl hopes to create a shift.

“You can’t be what you can’t see,” he said. “If men never see others being open and vulnerable, it’s hard to believe they can be too.”

Opening up about your mental health

Since the start of the week, Karl’s billboard campaign has featured messages touching on everything from suicidal thoughts to addiction recovery to coming out. Some are deeply personal; others universal. But all of them carry the same powerful message: you’re not alone.

People can take part by writing a message to an important man in their life and submitting it via Instagram DM. Each day, Karl selects one to be broadcast on the big screen. A photo is posted daily to social media, capturing that day’s message in all its bold, blazing glory.

“You’d be amazed how many people message me worried about a friend or loved one,” Karl said. “It shows we are surrounded by people who care, even if it doesn’t always feel obvious.”

That’s part of what makes the project so moving. It reminds us that even when we feel lost in the dark, there’s someone out there trying to light a path.

Advice on seeking mental health help

Karl’s advice to anyone struggling is grounded in lived experience. “Speak to someone you trust,” he urges. “It’s scary being vulnerable, but the weight that lifts after that first conversation is incredible. Choose a time and place that feels comfortable—sometimes a walk is less intimidating than sitting face-to-face.”

And most importantly: “You deserve help. You deserve support.”

He highlighted the amazing work of Andy’s Man Club and Mandem Meet Up in Manchester.

The billboard project might be a temporary installation, but its impact will ripple long after the final message fades. Because every single word, every shared story, is part of something much bigger: a movement toward a world where men can speak without shame, ask for help without fear, and live without hiding their pain.

As Karl puts it: “This might just be a ripple, but ripples make waves.”

“I hope by sharing messages with different stories and experiences that men from all walks of life and struggles will identify with something they read. And more broadly speaking, I hope the act of sharing those messages so publicly is a demonstration that it’s okay to not be okay and to share that with other people. It isn’t a sign of weakness, it takes a lot of bloody courage and resilience to want better for yourself and to get help.”

How to get involved

To get involved, share your message with Karl via Instagram, tag a man you love in the comments, and help spread the word. One message really can make all the difference.

Because silence is heavy, and together, we can help carry the load.

You can find out more on Karl’s instagram here and The Manchester Screen’s instagram here