12/08/2026
⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING — SU***DE & LOSS
In Memory of Richard Hills 💔
I have thought long and hard about whether to write this post and how much to share.
Most of what people see of MenTalk Health is photographs of men smiling, talking, walking together, creating art and supporting one another.
But there is another side to what we do. A side very few people see.
Last Tuesday, we lost our friend Richard to su***de.
Richard was an incredibly talented artist and a much-loved part of our MenTalk family. Art was a huge part of who he was, and he regularly attended our MenTalk art classes, where we had the privilege of watching some of his incredible work come to life.
Every year, Richard had a tradition. He would create a special piece of artwork for one of his favourite celebrities and take it to Comic Con to present to them personally.
This year, that person was Suzie Yeung, the incredibly talented voice actress known for her work in Final Fantasy VII and many other games and anime.
Richard had created something particularly special for her — a half-and-half portrait, blending Suzie herself with one of the characters she brought to life.
We had watched that portrait taking shape during our MenTalk art classes. It was unmistakably Richard: creative, thoughtful and incredibly talented. He had poured hours of work and a piece of himself into it.
Sadly, he never got the opportunity to present it himself.
Richard had been facing an incredibly difficult series of events which, tragically, became too much for him.
At 8:07pm last Tuesday, while I was on stage presenting our MenTalk group to around 50 men, a message from Richard expressing suicidal intent and saying goodbye was brought to our attention through one of our 24/7 digital support groups.
What happened next showed me exactly what this community is made of.
Within minutes, our men were searching. Some went to the train station, others searched throughout the high street and surrounding areas.
My team member Luke and I immediately drove to Richard’s home.
We arrived approximately nine minutes after his message.
Tragically, we were only minutes too late.
We immediately tried to bring Richard back and continued alongside the emergency services when they arrived. Despite everyone’s efforts, Richard could not be saved.
That is something many of us will carry.
But there was something Richard had left unfinished. And I couldn’t leave it that way.
His artwork was still waiting for the journey he had intended it to make.
Three days after we lost Richard, I took his painting and drove to Birmingham.
I did it for Rich. For his family, our team, the men who stood beside him, and everyone who loved him. We carried his torch together.
Richard couldn’t complete that final journey himself, so we carried his artwork forward, completed the journey he had started and made sure that something he had poured so much of himself into reached the person he had created it for.
I had the privilege of meeting Suzie Yeung and presenting Richard’s artwork to her on his behalf.
Suzie could not have been more compassionate. She signed Richard’s artwork and copies for his family, helping us complete something that meant so much to him and to those he left behind.
She then shared Richard’s artwork and his story with her own followers, allowing his talent and his memory to travel far beyond our community.
Within the first 12 hours, Richard’s story had reached more than 70,000 people.
Rich never got to stand there and complete that mission himself.
So together, we carried his torch and completed the journey for him. ❤️
And most importantly, Richard’s artwork got where he wanted it to go.
Since Richard’s death, MenTalk has stood beside his family, and we will continue to stand with them.
Because the impact of su***de doesn’t end when the emergency vehicles leave.
It comes in waves.
Those waves reach families, friends, service users, volunteers and the people who tried desperately to save someone they cared about.
I could not be prouder of the way our MenTalk family has pulled together around one another.
In four years, we have lost two men to su***de.
Two men too many.
We cannot change this loss. We cannot go back and change what happened that night, no matter how desperately we wish we could.
But we can continue to fight for every person who is still standing close to that edge.
For every man who feels there is no way out.
For every family frightened of losing someone they love.
For every person suffering quietly who hasn’t yet found the words to ask for help.
We will keep showing up. We will keep reaching out. We will keep answering the messages, the calls for help and standing beside people when the darkness feels overwhelming.
We know we cannot save everyone.
But we will never stop trying.
We will never stop caring.
And we will never give up.
I share this not to make Richard’s story about MenTalk, but because I want our community to understand what happens behind the photographs you normally see.
Over four years, our volunteers and members have responded to 27 direct su***de interventions. We carry lifesaving equipment, respond to crises, sit beside people during their darkest moments and support families and one another through what comes afterwards.
None of that would be possible without the extraordinary people who make up this community.
The smiles you see are real.
The friendships are real.
The laughter is real.
But behind them is also a community that will drop everything when one of its own needs help.
This week, that person was Richard.
And although we couldn’t change the ending, we can make sure he is never forgotten.
If Richard’s story moves you, please support the people and organisations in our community working every day to prevent another family experiencing this loss.
Whether that means volunteering, donating, sharing support services, checking in on somebody who has gone quiet, or simply sitting beside someone who needs you — please do something.
And if you are struggling, please talk. Reach out. Let somebody know.
There is no shame in needing someone beside you.
And Richard…
We miss you, Rich.
I hope you have found peace, and I hope somehow you are with your mum again.
We couldn’t save you that night.
But together, we carried your torch and completed your journey.
We will honour your memory. We will stand beside your family. Your artwork, your story and the impact you had on all of us will live on.
You will always be part of our MenTalk family.
Rest peacefully, mate. ❤️
Jason
Founder & CEO
MenTalk Health
❤️ A special thank you to .yeung — Suzie Yeung for the kindness, compassion and respect you showed Richard, his family, our team and everyone who loved him. You helped turn an incredibly painful moment into something his family can treasure forever.
Suzie’s tribute to Richard on X:
https://x.com/suzieyeung/status/2086904980603392124?s=46
Suzie Yeung on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/suzie.yeung?igsh=eXhjemNodmhvYndo
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