New Wigan men's mental health group launched

Directions For Men has started a group in the borough to support local men through any problems in their lives that may be affecting their wellbeing.
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Armed forces veteran Brendan Kelly, from Whelley, has brought the organisation to Wigan and has already put together a team of five facilitators, including Matt Peet, from Shevington, who runs mental health clothing brand Behind A Smile.

The new Wigan group is based at Sunshine House in Scholes and Brendan has ambitious plans to create a community of men who are able to confidently support each other through any hurdles or obstacles they face in life.

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Brendan, who spent more than two decades in the Army before leaving the forces in 2014, decided to found the local Directions For Men group after having mental health problems himself and struggling to find the right kind of support.

Brendan Kelly, founder of a Directions for Men group in WiganBrendan Kelly, founder of a Directions for Men group in Wigan
Brendan Kelly, founder of a Directions for Men group in Wigan

He said: “When I had a few issues myself I was looking for a gang of men to chat to and offload to and didn’t really see anything like that.

“I spoke to some ex-military guys around the country and a friend in Southampton had set up a group called Man Gang. That resonated with me.

“He said someone had contacted him wanting to bring it to the North West so I got in touch with Chris Judge, who founded Directions For Men in Warrington, and told him it would be simple to replicate what he was doing in Wigan.

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“It was a case of the stars aligning because he had been contacted by the Greater Manchester suicide prevention organisation.

“It’s peer-to-peer, we’re not replicating NHS services. It’s a first port of call. The way I look at it is like a simmering pot: we don’t wait to help people until they’ve already boiled over, we want to catch them before that.

“It’s a group of men and if you have issues or worries you can come and have a chat.”

The group sessions at Sunshine House helping men support each other through mental health issues are on a Wednesday evening but Brendan wants Directions For Men in Wigan to have a daily programme of activities during the week.

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Other plans in the pipeline include walking football sessions in Bolton on Sundays, walking and craft groups.

Brendan says there are often barriers to men being open about their mental health and wellbeing but hopes Directions For Men will create an atmosphere and environment where they feel comfortable sharing and talking.

He also spoke about how changes in everyday life in towns like Wigan have created the need for spaces where people can chat and discuss problems.

He said; “The biggest and hardest step is admitting you’ve got a problem. We need to break that stigma for men.

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“It’s about dealing with little worries before they turn into massive things and we get to the stage where you need medication or therapy.

“It could be work-related, relationships, transitions, moving to a different locations. It’s fine to speak about it

“A lot of problems are because people have withdrawn socially and aren’t interacting with people. There used to be a pub at the end of the cobbled street and all the manual workers would go in there, wash their worries away and start again.

“That lifestyle has gone and we need to bring back into society that interaction. I think getting people speaking to each other is the most important thing.”

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Brendan has received support from Wigan Council and has also spoken to the armed forces hub about how Directions For Men could support the veterans’ community.

The team behind the new Wigan group has also received glowing praise from the organisation’s overall founder Chris Judge.

He said: “They are going to be the A-team, they are a brilliant bunch of guys who are as passionate about this as I am.

“Wigan needs Wigan lads to do something like this. I can’t just come in and do it, it’s about local connections and guys who can talk to Wigan people and are proud of their town.

“I’m absolutely delighted with the group.”

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To find out more visit www.facebook.com/DirectionsForMenWigan

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