'Huge need' shown for men's mental health club

The organiser of a new men's mental health club in a Derbyshire village said he is "overwhelmed" with the support shown at its first session.

The start up of ManClub was held at Melbourne Assembly Rooms on Monday and is an alcohol-free, confidential space for men to talk about their feelings.

Joe Ward, 35, said the club had been set up following the death of a local chef who took his own life in July.

Mr Ward, who lives in Melbourne, said 27 people attended the first event and demonstrated the "huge need" for it in the area.

"I have lived here all my life and I have seen the mental health issues", he said.

"I felt compelled to start something and to be proactive by getting it up and running."

The Assembly Rooms is providing the room for free for two weeks and the Melbourne Carnival committee is covering the cost of the space for the next six months.

"There was a huge response from residents and businesses when we proposed the idea online and everyone has rallied behind it", said Mr Ward.

"We want to start that conversation and break the stigma around men's mental health."

Mr Ward explained that the chef who took his own life was a friend of his and others in Melbourne.

"It has had a big effect on me and my friends", said Mr Ward.

"We saw there was a huge need in Melbourne for a support group for men's mental health following that."

Other residents in the town, Sheila Hicklin, Matt Gotheridge and Mr Ward's mother, Alison Thornhill, also helped get the group up and running.

"I was panicking before the first session on whether anyone would turn up", said Mr Ward.

"There was a huge range of people covering all walks of life that were all happy to come again, so hopefully we can go from strength to strength from here."

Mr Ward said the group gives people a "different avenue" to going through other mental health services.

"I could have used something like this a long time ago", said Mr Ward, who has had depression and anxiety since childhood.

"There is a lot of people out there who need this and if we can share that then that’s wonderful.

"Even if this changes one person's life and saves that one person, then it's all been worth it and we have done a good job."

If you are suffering distress or despair, details of help and support are available at BBC Action Line.

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