A regional daily has launched a call for the men of its patch to talk about their mental health after covering the tragic story of a father-of-five who took his own life.

The Star, Sheffield, has begun a new campaign on the issue after reporting on an inquest into the death of 35-year-old Daniel Walton, who killed himself last summer after a long battle with depression and anxiety.

Following his death, a number of Mr Walton’s friends have opened up to his family about how they have experienced similar battles.

The Star launched the campaign on its front page on Wednesday, pictured below.

Speaking to the newspaper after the inquest last week, Mr Walton’s mother Sylvia Whitney said: “We need to get the message out there to men that it’s OK to talk.

“Just speak up about it. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. There’s a stigma that you’re not a man if you cry.

“They say ‘man up’ but actually don’t ‘man up’, don’t try to cover up what you’re feeling, be truthful about it.

“Daniel was such an outgoing, bubbly guy, and people used to look at him and think he’s not depressed. He felt he had to battle it on his own but he didn’t.”

The paper will be running a series of articles over the coming weeks on the issue of men’s mental health.

Star specialist editor Louise Cooper told HTFP:  “Mental health problems can affect anyone at any time so it’s vital that people know where to turn for support. Men traditionally aren’t as forthcoming as women when it comes to speaking out about their feelings and problems and we want to change that.

“Often taking that first step and acknowledging you’re struggling is the hardest thing to do so throughout this campaign we’ll be shining a spotlight on the range of services available to help those in need, as well as encouraging people to speak out.

“Mental health issues can affect your home life, work life and much more, but once you know where to turn, and can get the support that’s right for you, you can make a start on turning things around.

“What’s most important for us though, is that we encourage men to take that first step and reach out to their families, friends, or whoever they feel is best placed to help them.”