Tackling men’s mental health in Warrington
Warrington is tackling stigma and building momentum in the town to help men talk about mental health and connect with others through local men’s projects. Below are details of organisations offering support to men in Warrington with links to their respective websites or facebook pages for further information.
MoveMENt is a collective of organisations working together to establish and publicise a network of men’s support groups and activities across Warrington. Founded by Livewire Warrington, Warrington Wolves Foundation and Directions for Men. MoveMENt hopes to reach as many men as possible, raising awareness of the support and variety of groups available. They are doing this by connecting with members of the community and encouraging them to become community connectors and influencers, sharing information face to face and via social media to raise awareness of male suicide and the support available.
The organisation is also engaging the business community to support their aims by having good quality mental health conversations with staff, promoting groups and activities, donating staff time to lead and facilitate groups through corporate responsibility schemes providing training to individuals to facilitate men’s peer to peer groups. There is also an active and supportive group on the Strava running app with over 150 members.
The Warrington Wolves Foundation delivers its award-winning Offload men’s peer to peer support programme every Tuesday. They have guest speakers who often provide powerful and inspiring stories about their own experience which men can relate to. As well as this this there is always an opportunity for men to ‘offload’ and share their own thoughts on whatever it is that they are struggling with.
Sessions take place every Tuesday at 6.30pm at The Gateway, 89 Sankey Street, Warrington, WA1 1SR. The facility is completely covid safe and personal protective equipment (face masks, hand sanitiser etc) is available for everyone, with social distancing measures in place and temperature checks on arrival.
Directions For Men is a men’s peer to peer support organisation. They provide face to face and online talking sessions for men who are struggling, regardless of what they are struggling with.
Face to face sessions take place every Wednesday at 6:30pm at Making Space, 46 Allen Street, Warrington, WA2 7JB. They provide a COVID secure environment, with masks and hand sanitizer available and all seats are disinfected prior to and post groups. They also provide online groups via Zoom on Wednesdays at 6:30pm, Thursdays at 3pm, Fridays at 7pm and Sundays at 2pm.
https://www.facebook.com/DirectionsForMen/
Cheshire Wellness & Mental Fitness, have a mixed group every Monday in Lymm and Tony from Cheshire Wellness and Mental Fitness hosts Directions For Men’s Friday night check in session. Tony uses mindfulness techniques to support better emotional wellbeing.
Talkhub creator Jay hosts an online session every Sunday evening. Walking has supported Jay to manage his own emotional wellbeing, so he set up his own walking group which ordinarily meets every weekend at locations all over the North West. Because of the current restrictions Jay asks participants to go for a walk and take a picture. Participants then share their picture during the online session, with the opportunity to talk about their walk and discuss other issues affecting them. Jay quite often has guests from the sports world joining his sessions.
Mantalk Warrington offers a facebook page and talking group for men who are struggling to discuss their feelings and connect with other people who are in the same boat.
Warrington council have a mental wellbeing website with further resources and information if you are struggling. Visit https://happyoksad.warrington.gov.uk/
Warrington is also a Time to Change Hub. Warrington’s Time to Change Hub recruits and supports volunteers with lived experience of mental health problems, known as champions. The role of Time to Change champions is to challenge stigma and discrimination associated with mental health problems. The champions do this by getting involved in campaigns, events and activities across Warrington.
If you’re interested in getting involved or would just like to find out more ring 0787 678 3659 or email [email protected]. The local hub is led by Warrington Speak Up, in partnership with Warrington Borough Council.