Tom Chapman on Strength, Healing and Speaking Up

Content warning: This video contains themes of sexual abuse and suicide. If you think it may be triggering for you please take care when listening. The thoughts and opinions expressed by our contributors are not necessarily those held by Something to Say.

In this episode, STS sits down with Tom Chapman, founder of Lions Barber Collective, for an honest conversation about the barriers that stop many men from speaking openly about what they're going through.

Drawing from his own experiences, including the loss of a close friend to suicide, Tom reflects on how that moment changed the direction of his life and led him to create work focused on suicide prevention, mental health awareness, and meaningful conversations within communities.

Together, they explore why shame, fear of judgement, and ideas around masculinity can make it difficult for men to ask for support. They discuss the lasting impact of childhood trauma, including child sexual abuse, and why many male survivors remain silent for years, sometimes decades. The conversation also looks at how trauma can affect relationships, self-worth, and everyday life, even when it isn't spoken about directly.

Tom shares why men often communicate more comfortably in environments that feel safe and non-judgemental, why changes in behaviour can be an important sign that someone is struggling, and how friends, family members, and partners can help create opportunities for connection without pressure.

The discussion also challenges common misconceptions about male survivors and offers a hopeful reminder that support isn't one-size-fits-all. What helps one person may not help another, and finding the right support can take time.

This is a thoughtful conversation about silence, shame, resilience, and the importance of creating spaces where people feel safe enough to be heard.

If this conversation resonates with you, we'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. And if you think it could help someone else feel a little less alone, please consider sharing it. 💚

To contact Tom:

https://heretotalktraining.com/contact/

Instagram - @tomchapman_hair

https://linktr.ee/Tomchapman

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This podcast provides a platform for contributors to share their own lived experiences. Unless expressly stated otherwise, Something to Say has not independently verified the factual accuracy of statements made by contributors and does not endorse or adopt any allegations, assertions, opinions or conclusions expressed in this recording.

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