Smack Talk: Turning grief into a movement

About the book

On the morning of the 24^th of October 2023, Wayne Holdsworth went upstairs to wake Mac, his 17-year-old son. He discovered Mac’s body instead. 

In the period leading up to this, Mac had been sexually exploited online which was one of many factors which lead to him taking his own life. 

In this deeply personal memoir, Wayne revisits this time. He considers what led to his son’s death, how the family grieved Mac’s passing and how Wayne’s own mental health struggled in the months after. In the years since, Wayne has strived to honour Mac and turn his legacy into a powerful initiative – Smack Talk – which aims to spread awareness of the insidious side of social media and prevent youth suicide. Wayne has now delivered over 300 presentations at schools, conferences and even in front of the Prime Minister, sharing Mac’s story and saving other families from suffering as his did. 

Here, he shares that journey with us. 

Wayne was also instrumental in advocating for the social media ban for under 16s and the creation of the grass-roots movement Unplug24. 

Powerful and personal, this memoir is driven by a father’s love for his son and a deep desire for change for the better. 

Included in this book is a ‘Guide to Saving a Life’ and an associated ‘Teacher’s Guide’, which provides ways to constructively think about, process and discuss the themes and messages of Smack Talk: Turning grief into a movement.