When creatives leave advertising to “pursue other interests” you never expect they will do something impressive. What Ben Akers’ (ex-Republic of Everyone, George Patterson Y&R & Droga5) did next is impressive. Very, very impressive. He created a documentary film about male suicide after he left advertising – and Australia. Then four years ago, he launched a community, Talk Club, for male mental health, because suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50 in the UK. A man takes his own life every 90 minutes. With 76% of suicide being male.
In a time where mental health of people in society is suffering, attending a Talk Club has been proven to raise a man’s mental health by 10%. Talk Club is now a fully-fledged charity with 3,000 men in its community and over 70 clubs around the world. And Ben is the CEO of a charity he “didn’t mean to start”. Talk Club includes peer to peer Talk & Listening groups, Talk & Exercise (it even has a football team) and Talk Club Therapy, all based around the idea of mental fitness and helping men to say how they really feel by answering, “How Are You? Out of 10?”
Two years ago, Talk Club launched an alcohol-free beer called Clear Head with Bristol Beer factory. 5% of profits go to Talk Club. The alcohol-free beer “made to save lives” is now the beer-maker’s biggest selling beer and more than £40,000 has been donated, raising the mental fitness of men in communities across the UK.
So for World Suicide Prevention Day 2023 on September 10, Talk Club + Bristol BeerFactory are celebrating their collaboration with a poster campaign to remind people to open a real conversation.
Neil Harrison Talk Club co-founder and chief creative officer commented, “We started our first Talk Club in the back of Bristol Beer Factory in Southville, Bristol. Since then BBF and then Clear Head have been at the heart of our community. They have helped us grow and carry the message of how men can start a real conversation. On World Suicide Prevention Day we wanted to remind our community that asking ‘How are you? Out of 10?’ can save lives.”
Credits:
Bristol Beer Factory:
Head of Brand: Clem Elphick
Managing Director: Sam Burrows
Talk Club Studios:
Writers: Ben Akers, Neil Harrison, Gavin Thorpe.
Art Direction & Design: Tony Stiles
Typography: Fiasco Design Printing by Taylor Bros
