‘After my son died I found it really difficult – I felt I had failed as a father and a husband. My ‘practical’ self was telling me I had to fix the situation for my wife and two other sons. I was scared to talk about me and thought I would be perceived as weak and not able to care for my family in the way they needed me to. I had some very dark times, but with time I realised it was the exact opposite – talking about how I was feeling made me stronger and more able to deal with what had happened.I would say to anyone that it’s essential to talk to someone, be it a friend, family, someone at work, or your GP, about how you feel – it does not make you any less of a man to do so. Losing my son will never change, but I now know that talking makes me better equipped to cope.’
Dean, whose son died