Demand for strides, not steps, from government

STEPHEN

- BY SIMON MURPHY

Fry today issues a powerful plea to tackle the men’s mental health “national emergency", warning lives are at stake.The Celebrity Traitors star, who has shared his own battle with bipolar disorder, calls for “strides” rather than just “steps”.

In a hard-hitting piece, Sir Stephen welcomes the new men’s health strategy by Keir Starmer's government but argues “recognition alone does not save lives”.

The campaigning actor, 68, who was knighted for services to mental health awareness, highlights how suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50.

In 2013, he revealed he attempted suicide the year before while filming abroad. It followed a 1995 bid after walking out of a West End play he was in.