Hi, I’m Chris — founder of SAD CAT UK
I launched SAD CAT UK after going through one of the most difficult periods of my life. Following the breakdown of my marriage and eventual divorce, I found myself in a place I never imagined — struggling with my mental health, feeling isolated, and at times, suicidal. Like many men, I didn’t know how to talk about what I was feeling. I’d show up to work with a fake smile, pretending everything was fine, while privately turning to self-harm as a way to cope. I was sinking deeper into the dark and didn’t see a way out.
Everything changed after I survived a high-speed car accident, though. That moment forced me to stop and really think about what I was doing — and how precious life truly is. I knew I couldn’t keep hurting myself. I needed to change. So, I started talking. And that’s when things began to shift. Life didn’t become perfect overnight, but it got easier. Day by day, I started to heal. Now, I can honestly say I’m stronger, healthier, and happier than I’ve ever been.
But I haven’t forgotten what it felt like to be in that place — and I’m determined to help others avoid it. No one should have to suffer in silence or lose the battle against their own mind.What I’ve learned is this: the stigma around male mental health is still dangerously strong. Too many men — our brothers, dads, uncles, friends — are taught to bottle things up, to carry on no matter what, and to hide their pain. That silence can be fatal.
Suicide is the leading cause of death in men under 50. That has to change!
And that’s why I created SAD CAT UK. Not just to make clothing, but to start conversations. I want to encourage men to open up, to talk, and to realise that vulnerability isn’t weakness — it’s strength. That first conversation can be the turning point. It can lead to a brighter, safer, more hopeful future. Speaking up can quite literally save your life.
Let’s change the story — together.
-Chris Brooker, founder of SAD CAT UK
