Never Throw In The Towel Project

"Never Throw in the Towel" is a boxing term that means never giving up and continuing to fight. This talk explores the power and simplicity of that mindset, which can save lives and provide support when dealing with depression and mental health challenges. I know this to be true from my own lived experience.

I created a project called "Never Throw in the Towel" with the strapline "Keep on Living." These were the words I used at the end of my grandmother's eulogy when she passed away. Her legacy inspired me to start this project.

I share my personal story of struggles after overnight fame from winning the reality TV show Big Brother. This sudden fame brought extreme highs and lows, leading me into a very dark headspace and depression. Although I felt a lot of shame during that time, I am now proud of my resilience and determination to never give up.

I discuss my role as a barber, where I regularly engage with men who open up while sitting in the chair. This experience inspired me to bring my barber chair to companies in a comfortable and natural environment for men to talk without pressure. This approach is particularly effective for men in male-dominated industries like construction and manufacturing. While the talk focuses on men's mental health and suicide, it is designed for everyone, and attendees can benefit.

I discuss suicide statistics and explore strategies to address this issue and improve mental health. The main message is that "talking is a strength, not a weakness." One key takeaway from the talk is inspired by Napoleon Hill: "in every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit."