Meet the hugger helping strangers open up

During the day, 24‑year‑old father of two Aiden Opie is a team leader at a concrete factory.

In the evenings, when he's not making concrete, he's standing in the streets of Nottingham city centre offering hugs and creating a space for people to talk openly about their mental health, something he says he has struggled with for most of his life.

Every weekday he travels from his home in The Meadows, picks a spot in the city centre, sets up his camera, and stands still among the bustle of the high street holding a sign that reads: "If you have ever struggled with anxiety or depression, hug me."

He posts some of his interactions on TikTok, where he has more than 155,000 followers and some videos have reached more than a million views.

Aiden says his mental health struggles began in childhood after the death of his younger brother in 2008, when he was just six.

"I always found it hard to deal with my emotions," he said. "I've been at the point where I almost didn't want to be here anymore, but you have to survive."

He says speaking openly has never come naturally.

But after seeing a social media video asking men whether they cry, he bought a camera and headed to the city centre to ask people the same question.

"I uploaded it and didn't think much of it," he said. "Then it went viral. The conversations were so powerful, people were connecting, people felt heard."

That response encouraged him to go further. One day, he decided to stand in the city centre offering free hugs to anyone who had struggled with their mental health.

Aiden sets up his camera, stands with his sign, and invites strangers to come over for a hug and a chat.

"I'll invite people to come to me, rather than me going to them," he said. "I'll judge it on merit.

"If someone really opens up to me, I'll always ask whether they're comfortable with me posting it on social media.

"Many people who don't want to be featured on camera make that very clear, and we'll have our conversation away from it."

He says the project has helped him as much as the people he meets.

"If I've had a bad day, I'll go out and offer hugs. It's the best feeling, knowing I could help someone. When people ask how I'm doing, it takes me back. It's nice to speak to people and see them speaking out," he said.

Aiden says he connects with people because he understands the weight of what they are carrying.

"Some people don't believe in mental health, they think it's a fad," he added. "But I've experienced it first-hand. It's a scary, lonely place."

Hugging, he says, has become his own way of coping.

"Some people go fishing, some watch football, some go to the pub, I go out hugging," Aiden said. "It might sound strange, but it makes me happy."

Even so, starting is not always easy, he added.

"There are days I plan to record and I just can't bring myself to do it," Aiden said.

"I'll stand there for an hour trying to set up, too scared to begin. But once I get past that first hug, I feel fine."

He says he has had negativity thrown his way, but it does not shake his purpose, adding: "My mission is stronger than any names I get called."

One encounter in particular has stayed with him.

He recalls: "A homeless man came up to me, hunched over, mumbling, and asked, 'do you mind a homeless man hugging you?' I was gobsmacked.

"He thought I wouldn't hug him. I had to stop recording and go home, it broke my heart."

Aiden says the moment shifted his perspective. "Maybe he feels like he has nothing left. Hopefully that hug helped him," he said.

"It made me appreciate life and realise my problems aren't as big as others. I felt really grateful that night."

Ali Tahar, who was visiting Nottingham from Kuwait, stopped to embrace Aiden.

"That human connection has been broken by AI and social media," he said.

"As a community we have a responsibility to look after each other. It's important to talk about these feelings so nobody feels alone.

"That small hug for a couple of seconds was nice, it made me smile."

Leon Idahosa also paused to speak with Aiden and appreciated the moment of warmth.

"It's beautiful," he said. "So many people struggle on a daily basis and don't speak to anyone.

"It's a good thing he's here, you don't even have to say anything. Just a hug means a lot. You feel that warmth."

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