This week on Back & Forth, Dan and Will are joined by Stu Baker for an open, raw and deeply honest conversation about mental health, identity, and what happens when the coping mechanisms you’ve relied on suddenly disappear.
Stu speaks candidly about his upbringing, joining the Navy at 17, and using rugby as an outlet for pressure, emotion, and stress. When injury forced him to step away from the game, he shares how losing that release led to a gradual unravelling — culminating in a diagnosis of clinical depression in his 30s.
A central part of the episode focuses on Stu’s experience of depression, alcohol misuse, and the moments that led to a suicide attempt in 2017. He reflects openly on how quickly things escalated, how isolation and silence fed the noise in his head, and how difficult it was to ask for help before reaching crisis point.
Together, they discuss the realities many men face when it comes to mental health — the pressure to “crack on”, the lack of emotional language, and how easily pain can be normalised when you don’t feel able to talk. The conversation explores self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and the fine line between coping and masking.
Dan and Will reflect alongside Stu, opening up about vulnerability, masculinity, and why men often wait until breaking point before speaking honestly. It’s a thoughtful, compassionate discussion about listening without fixing, checking in properly, and the importance of being asked, “Are you really okay?”
This episode doesn’t offer easy answers, but it does offer understanding — and a powerful reminder that recovery is possible, conversations matter, and no one has to sit with this stuff alone.
This is Part One of a two-part conversation with Stu.
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