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Walking through the door for the very first time made me feel uneasy but the warm welcome I received from the other men put me at ease very quickly. The groups have many men who struggle with their own mental health issues but it is safe non-judgemental environment as everything said in the groups is always confidential. Attending ManHealth sessions has saved my life and am feeling much better, I also know more about my mental health issues meaning I have a number of tools in my tool box to help me manage my own mental health issues moving forward. I also listen to how the other men manage their own mental well-being. - Richie
The suicide rate for men in England and Wales in 2019 was the highest for two decades. Data from the Office for National Statistics found there were 5691 suicides registered.
ManHealth are the only voluntary sector organisation using a proactive approach to address this issue. ManHealth provide free peer support groups and a WebChat and Connect service across County Durham and Northumberland for men with depression and other mental health conditions. We know that the intense emotional pain you can experience when depressed can distort your thinking so it becomes harder to see possible solutions to problems, or to connect with those who can offer support. Suicide might seem like the only way to make the pain stop. We also know that peer support offered by someone who has a lived experience of mental ill health can help men.
In 2020 ManHealth supported over 3500 men and provided over 7000 hours of free peer support.
ManHealth also provide training for Businesses, Schools and Colleges on health inequalities affecting men and boys. ManHealth also campaign to raise awareness about men’s health issues. ManHealth’s support indirectly benefits families’ employers, GPs, NHS and voluntary sector organisations.
Men with a lived experience of a mental health condition lead our peer support groups. Therefore, when we say we can relate to your journey, we mean it.
ManHealth focus on a recovery model, which aims to help our mates with mental health problems to look beyond mere survival and existence. It encourages them to move forward, set new goals, do things, and develop relationships that give their lives meaning.
The five key components of our model:
I heard about ManHealth on Social Media. I contacted their Webchat and Connect service and was able to chat with someone who really got what I was talking about. I was encouraged to attend a peer support group in Spennymoor. I was really pleased I went it helped a lot. - Dean
For men who are unable to, or don’t feel ready to join our peer support groups we offer a confidential free support and information service to men in County Durham and Darlington who are struggling with their mental health. Men are able to talk in confidence with our trained male facilitators via our website. The service operates 7 days a week from 6-10pm.
ManHealth delivered their Blokes: Brain,Brawn & Balls training to our male staff in May 2019. The course delivers detailed discussion around the top 5 preventable killers of men in the UK. The course is very informal and relaxed, allowing staff to discuss openly and honestly a very difficult subject. Staff are allowed to be as proactive as they feel comfortable, with no pressure being applied to individuals to do any more or less. As a company we have had nothing but positive feedback from staff and have recommended the course to other companies within our group. In my group of 6 staff one employee left the meeting and immediately made an appointment for an over 40’s health check, success.
Neil Teesdale
Finance Director - EOS Facades
ManHealth offer range of course designed to reduce health inequalities affecting men and boys.
Our courses have been delivered to many companies including Hitachi Rail UK, HM Passport Office, Disclosure and Barring Service and ENGIE UK.
As a Community Interest Company, we are only able to deliver our lifesaving services free because of the invaluable support of our community.
We run a number of fundraising events throughout the year, which are open to everyone. We also welcome the individual fundraising efforts of people, schools and businesses within our area and offer support and advice to help you organise an event.
If you would like to learn more about our events and/or fundraising for us, please contact Louise Littlewood on louise@manhealth.org.uk.
If you’d like to find out more about what we do check out the ‘About’ section, and don’t hesitate to get in touch by clicking on our contact page.
ManHealth wanted people to gain a real insight into the insidious way Depression can affect people’s lives and relationships. We commissioned David Napthine to write 6 original screenplays about the symptoms of depression and how they affect the life of Geoff and Kate. We wanted to show how Depression consumes your day-to-day life and interferes with your ability to work, study, eat, sleep, and have fun; and the feelings you have when depressed – such as helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness – which can be intense and unrelenting and become life threatening.
Depression is a low mood that lasts for a long time, and affects your everyday life. But because of the stigma attached to depression, men will often talk about feeling angry or irritable rather than sad or down. But depression is different from these feelings in that it consumes your day-to-day life and interferes with your ability to work, study, eat, sleep, and have fun. The feelings you have when depressed – such as helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness – can be intense and unrelenting.
At its most severe, depression can be life-threatening because it can make you feel suicidal or simply give up the will to live.
This stigma contributes to many men not seeking support until their depression is very severe, if at all. This can place men at an increased risk of taking their own lives – the greatest risk factor for suicide is untreated depression.
Fortunately, more and more men, including professional athletes, musicians, actors, lawyers, businessmen, writers, tradesmen, teachers, men in the military, and everyone in between, are ‘going public’ about depression and taking control of their health.
This site will provide you with tips and tools, information about professional services, and stories of success that show you how depression can be overcome.
It starts with you recognising depression and then making important changes in your life to overcome it. It takes courage. It takes strength. It takes work. But we know that it can be done.