UK PM posts heartfelt video letter to son on International Men's Day / Photo: Stefan Rousseau - POOL/AFP
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UK PM posts heartfelt video letter to son on International Men's Day
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer published a heartfelt video letter to his son on Wednesday to mark International Men's Day, telling him how proud he was of him.
In the video posted on his Instagram account, a seated Starmer can be seen reading out the letter to his son, advising him to avoid listening to voices of doubt in his head.
"I do know it's not easy growing up in this day and age," Starmer says.
"I know there are pressures on young men that are difficult to talk about, and questions that frankly, are difficult to answer; questions about mental health, masculinity, social media."
The publication of the prime minister's video comes after the British star of hard-hitting Netflix drama "Adolescence", Stephen Graham, launched a project last month inviting fathers around the world to write a letter to their sons telling them what it means to be a man.
Starmer's video was partly inspired by Graham's project, if not specifically part of it, officials said.
"It feels like only yesterday that we brought you home, so nervous but so excited for the journey ahead," Starmer said in the video, addressing his son, whose name has not been publicly disclosed.
"Today, almost unbelievably, you're already 17. You're taller than I am and you've grown into a confident, kind, wonderful young man, and I'm so proud of you."
Starmer also addressed the strained relationship with his father, saying they "never really spoke" and he had always been determined that his bond with his own son "was going to be different".
When he was younger, he said he often had a voice in the back of his head telling him he was not good enough for certain things.
"If I have one message for you and for every other child growing up, it is this – don't listen to that voice," he said.
"Every young person has something to offer and I want to make sure every child realises their dreams, so your generation has the future that it deserves."
Starmer's video coincides with the launch of the "first ever" men's health strategy in England, which seeks to address mental and physical health challenges specifically facing men such as suicide prevention and prostate cancer care.
Men are less likely to seek support, and are more likely to smoke, drink, gamble and use drugs than women, the health ministry said as it launched the strategy.
T.Peeters--JdB
