Man Up, Man Down

What does it do to you when someone you love tries to end their life?

Paul McGregor’s dad tried to kill himself, but survived. He went into hospital, came home, and got better. Or at least that’s what people thought. A few months later, the battle continued. And on the 4th March 2009, Paul's Dad ended his life.

You're a young man, and your dad has just taken his life. How do you grieve? Tormented by the question of why, you lock it away and man up. You wear a mask to show others you're coping, but you spend every moment you have alone an emotional wreck. Wishing he was still here. You chase money, status, success all as a way to distract yourself from those feelings. But none of it works. You find yourself feeling like you too, will end your own life. 

Man Up Man Down is Paul’s tale of recovery. Taking off that mask and being able to answer the questions that surrounded his Dad's suicide. It also explores what it means to be a man in today's society, and what it takes to be able to deal with a heatbreaking suicide. How do you cry? How do you show emotion? When we're conditioned to tell others we're fine and man up?