How Poetry Can Be a Lifeline For Men Struggling to Open Up.

We all carry things that no one else can see. For many men, that weight is silent — a rucksack full of pain, shame, and unspoken struggles. On a recent episode of The Meaning of Men, host Simeon Atkins sat down with author and poet Drew Horner. Drew began the conversation not with small talk, but with a poem — raw, heartbreaking, and real. It tackled head-on the darkest parts of men’s mental health: depression, suicidal thoughts, shame, and silence.

The episode peeled back layers on the power of creativity, vulnerability, and how unspoken struggles can become unbearable unless we find outlets. Through poetry, metaphor, and deeply personal insights, Drew offers up alternative ways to process pain that don’t rely on the usual “sit down and talk about it” model. Here are five key takeaways from the conversation — each a nudge towards greater mental health awareness, and a reminder that you’re not alone.

1. Writing Can Say What You Can’t

Sometimes talking isn’t enough — or isn’t possible. Drew found that when he couldn’t find the right words in conversation, he could write them down. His poetry gave shape to things he didn’t understand or couldn’t explain. For many men, especially those taught to bottle things up, writing can be a release valve. It doesn’t need to be pretty. It just needs to be honest. Drew’s poem, which opens with the line “Don’t hide your pains inside,” is a perfect example — raw, vivid, and deeply human.

This is a reminder that self-expression doesn’t have to look like therapy. It can be messy. It can be silent. And it can still be powerful. When you're trying to make sense of mental health struggles or signs of male depression, a blank page can be a place to offload, without judgement or pressure. Drew proves that sometimes, writing is how we speak — even when we’ve lost our voice.

2.Finding Yourself Through Poetry

For Drew, poetry wasn’t just a creative outlet — it was a lifeline. He started writing during one of the darkest times in his life, when everything felt heavy and hard to explain. What he found in poetry was freedom. Freedom to feel without judgement. Freedom to explore emotions he’d been taught to ignore.

If you’re struggling with your mental health, especially as a man, writing poetry can be a powerful first step toward understanding yourself. You don’t need fancy words or perfect rhyme. Just start with how you feel — even if it’s ugly or unclear. Write what you can’t say out loud. Write what hurts.

It’s not about being “a poet”. It’s about expression. And often, in that process, something surprising happens: you begin to notice patterns, release emotion, and see your story from a new angle. Poetry isn’t a cure, but it can be a mirror — and sometimes that’s exactly what men need to realise they’re not alone in how they feel.

So if you’re holding it all in, try letting it out — line by line. You might just surprise yourself.

3. Depression Doesn’t Always Look Like You Expect

One of the things Drew makes clear is that depression in men often flies under the radar. It’s not always tears and dramatic breakdowns — sometimes it’s a blank expression, a loss of motivation, or avoiding mates. Sometimes it’s working too much, drinking too often, or snapping over nothing. It’s subtle, and that’s the danger.

Because men are often raised to hide their feelings, they become experts at masking what’s really going on. They don’t want to be a burden or seem like they’re not coping. But mental health doesn’t care about appearances. The truth is, depression can look like just getting through the day with no joy. That’s why we need more honest conversations — so men stop suffering in silence, and start recognising what’s really going on inside themselves.

4. Creativity Isn’t Just a Hobby — It’s a Lifeline

Poetry might not be the first thing you think of when talking about mental health. But Drew makes the case that creativity can be a lifeline. Writing became a place where he could be completely honest — not for an audience, but for himself. For men who struggle to sit in therapy or open up to friends, art can offer a different kind of space.

Whether it’s painting, journalling, songwriting, or even voice notes, creative expression gives form to feelings that are too heavy to hold alone. It’s not about being “good” at it — it’s about getting it out. Drew said he writes because it helps him make sense of himself. That’s what mental health support should be — something that helps us find meaning in the mess. So if talking isn’t your thing, don’t rule out creativity. It might just be your way through.

5. Be a Chain Breaker: The Power of Using Your PainThe final takeaway from the chat was one of hope. Drew talks about becoming a “chain breaker” — someone who uses their pain not just to survive, but to help others break their own silence. He’s not pretending to have it all sorted. He’s still carrying some of that rucksack. But he’s found purpose in sharing what he’s learned, and he’s encouraging others to do the same.

This is what mental health awareness looks like at its best — not a campaign or a slogan, but a quiet act of bravery from one person, passed on to the next. Whether it’s through poetry, conversation, or simply showing up differently in your life, you can be that chain breaker too. You can stop the silence from being passed down. You can change what strength looks like, just by being honest about your own pain.

Conclusion

Drew's conversation was a masterclass in emotional honesty — and a reminder that there’s no single way to heal. Whether you’re a man silently struggling or someone who loves one, his message is simple but powerful: you don’t have to carry it all. Signs of male depression are easy to miss — especially when we’re taught to look tough and act fine. But there’s strength in softness. There’s courage in creativity. And there’s power in sharing your truth, in whatever way you can. So take the poem, take the metaphor, take the message — and take the first step to healing.