Josh Hartley, co-author of the acclaimed memoir The Boy Between, will share his personal story on Friday, October 16, at Leckford Estate.
The event is organised by Tea Leaves & Reads in partnership with The Waitrose & Partners Farm, and will see Josh in discussion with bestselling novelist and his mum Amanda Prowse.
The memoir, co-written by Josh and Amanda, details Josh’s journey of leaving home for university, battling depression, surviving a suicide attempt and ultimately finding a life filled with hope and purpose.
Author Amanda Prowse is touring with her son, Josh Hartley. (Image: Supplied)
Through excerpts from the book and candid conversation, Josh and Amanda aim to delve into the realities of men’s mental health, the hurdles of seeking help and how families, friends, teachers and carers can better support their loved ones.
In the UK, suicide remains the leading cause of death for young men, and the organisers believe that changing this begins with conversation.
The evening promises to be a welcoming space for attendees to listen, ask difficult questions and gain a deeper understanding of often-hidden experiences.
While the topics to be discussed are challenging, the event is ultimately about hope.
Josh’s story is one of resilience, recovery and discovering the small, everyday ways to find peace, connection and purpose, even in the darkest moments.
The Boy Between was selected as a World Book Night title and named an Amazon Best Book of the Year.
Josh has widely shared his experiences on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, BBC Breakfast, Lorraine, This Morning and across numerous podcasts and national publications.
Doors open at 6.30pm, with the main event starting at 7pm.
Attendees will have the chance to settle in and enjoy browsing a selection of sweet treats, hot drinks and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
The conversation, including a Q&A session, will last approximately an hour and will be followed by a book signing and dedication session featuring The Boy Between.
The organisers warmly welcome anyone interested in mental health, those who have read Josh’s book or anyone who simply wishes to be part of a meaningful conversation.
With a strong belief that such conversations should be accessible to everyone, the organisers have urged potential attendees to contact them in confidence if the ticket price is prohibitive by emailing events@tealeavesandread.co.uk.
Tickets can be purchased at the Tea Leaves & Reads Bookshop or online at tealeavesandreads.co.uk/events