Rhys Bennett urges people not to struggle in silence after father’s suicide

Rhys Bennett has urged people to talk and not struggle in silence as Manchester United’s FA Youth Cup-winning captain prepares for his first Christmas since his father’s suicide.

The 22-year-old’s world changed in October when he received the heartbreaking news that his dad, David, had taken his own life.

Bennett, who skippered United to FA Youth Cup glory in 2022 and currently plays for the club’s Under-21s, has faced the tragedy with strength, bravery and admirable purpose.

Suicide is the biggest killer in men under 50 in the UK, with the centre-back determined to raise awareness and create conversation at what can be a difficult time for many.

“The biggest killer in men is men,” Bennett told the Press Association. “You find that hard to believe but it is.

“A situation like this happens and you don’t want there to be a stigma around people talking about how they feel. It doesn’t matter what environment you’re in.

“I want it to get to a point where everybody talks about their feelings. Even if you’re going great in life and things are going well, talk about how you feel.

“You’re going to have good days, bad days but letting people know that life is still worth living. There’s a lot of good days are coming and everyone’s here to help anybody who is in that situation speaking out.

“You will realise that every single person around you will do anything for you and we’d do anything to have him back.

“We’d have done anything for him, and I’m sure there’s so many people out there who may have been in the same situation, or they might think something might happen.

“Just really reaching out and trying to connect with them on a deeper level so that situation doesn’t happen because it doesn’t need to happen.”

Bennett idolised his