Mark's journey

One text from a mate

Mark, founder of Not Okay · Published 2 November 2026

A few years ago I was a prison officer. I lost more colleagues and friends to suicide than anyone should have to. Then it came for me too - a split from my ex-wife, a lonely Christmas working a 13-hour shift rather than sit at home, and a plan I'd already settled on for what came after.

What changed it was one word from a mate:

"Pub?"

He told me straight, before I'd had a sip, that he knew I wasn't okay. We spent the day laughing and drinking, and as I left he said he'd call tomorrow and I'd better answer. He never knew how close I'd been, or what that one text did. To him it was nothing. To me it was everything.

Over a decade on, I've watched my kids grow up and built a career I wouldn't have had otherwise, because someone took thirty seconds to check in. That's the only reason this site exists: so that finding help, checking in, or being checked on, is one click away instead of a Google search.

Mark