New group offering mental health support to men in Cheltenham

A new group aimed at reducing male suicide rates in Gloucestershire has launched in Cheltenham.

MAN UP Gloucestershire had their first meeting on Tuesday January 21 at the GL3 Community Hub in Churchdown. They aim to hold informal meetings at the hub every Tuesday from 7:30pm to 9pm.

The group call themselves a community of peer support where men over 18 can come to chat, enjoy safe community and share whatever is on their mind. They believe offering men a community of support will encourage them to speak up about their mental health and connect with others. 

A representative of the group said: “MAN UP Gloucestershire offers men throughout the county a safe space where they can come once a week to have a cuppa and talk about any issues that may be on their minds.

“It doesn’t matter if someone has had a bad week or if they may be going through a real rough patch in their lives; everyone is an equal once they step through the door and we can then begin a process of getting men to talk about their problems and connect with individuals who may be in a similar position.”

A Government survey found that roughly 69 people per year in Gloucestershire die by suicide. In 2019, national suicide rates reached their highest since 2002, with men making up three quarters of these suicides.

The World Health Organisation also reported in 2019 that males are four times more likely to die by suicide than females.

Keep up to date with MAN UP Gloucestershire by liking their Facebook page