Bear With Me: The Sculpture Inspiring Tough Talks on Male Mental Health

In Bristol, a statue called Bear With Me was installed in 2020 on World Suicide Prevention Day. The statue shows a hooded man sitting with his face in his hands, looking very upset, while a bear sits beside him, gently placing its paw on the man's shoulder. The artist who created this sculpture wanted to raise awareness about the high rates of male suicide and encourage people to talk more openly about their feelings. Five years after the statue was put up, the artist says that male suicide is still a serious issue. He believes that it is more important than ever for people to keep talking about mental health and not be afraid to show their emotions. The artist explained that he made the statue during the pandemic, a time when many people were struggling. Now, even though the reasons people struggle may have changed, the problems are still just as big. He is not very hopeful that things will get better soon, which is why he thinks it is so important to keep the conversation going. According to recent statistics, thousands of men in England take their own lives every year. The Bear With Me statue has received a lot of attention on social media, with people from all over the world reacting to it. The artist shared a story about meeting a man from Malaysia who recognized the statue, showing how far its message has spread. The bear in the sculpture is meant to remind people of the comfort they felt from their childhood teddy bears. The artist says that when we are young, it is okay to be soft and show our feelings. But as we grow older, society often tells men to be tough and not show weakness. He wanted to challenge this idea by creating a piece of art that shows it is okay to be vulnerable. The artist believes that admitting when you are not okay is actually a sign of strength. He was inspired to make the statue after losing a friend to suicide and seeing how many men struggle with their mental health. When the statue was first installed, it quickly became popular online, with hundreds of thousands of people reacting to it. Many people shared their own experiences with suicide and mental health, which made the artist feel both proud and sad. He was glad that his work was helping people talk about these issues, but it was also heartbreaking to see how many people had been affected by suicide. One person even sent the artist a message saying that they had been thinking about ending their life, but changed their mind after seeing the statue online. The artist said that if his work helped even one person, it was worth all the effort. The Bear With Me statue is a powerful reminder that it is okay to ask for help and to talk about your feelings. The artist hopes that people will continue to support each other and keep the conversation about mental health going. If you or someone you know is struggling, remember that there are people who care and want to help. The statue continues to inspire people to share their stories and be kind to one another, showing that even small acts of comfort can make a big difference.