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Reflections on Masculinity and Mental Health

When my son, Robin, was 1 and a half, he had an accident. He fell out of his pram and bumped his head. It wasn’t anything serious; he got an egg on his head and a bit of bruising. The guilt I felt in that moment however was instantaneous and significant. I don’t doubt any parent probably would have felt my exact level of guilt and their inevitable response would be to hug their child and shed some tears alongside them.

That wasn’t my reaction. Yes, I absolutely wanted to express my emotions. I wanted to cry. I held my son as he wept but no tears came to me.