Suicide prevention group wins praise and expands

Tom Hubbard said the club was a safe, non-judgemental place for men to talk

A suicide prevention group set up to help men in a city has proved so popular a second has been set up within a year.

The charity Andy's Man Club has 270 such groups around the country, weekly talking groups for men.

Coventry's first launched in November with the second set up within months and they have been nominated in BBC CWR's Make a Difference Awards in the community group category.

Martin Howarth, from the club, said: "I know for a fact it's saving lives. I had some thoughts but Andy's got rid of those thoughts.

"My wife says [the group] gave her her husband back and gave my kids their dad back.

"It's just a safe place for men to talk and not feel judged."

Martin Howarth said Andy's Man Club had helped him banish negative thoughts

Joe Everitt joined in January to cope with going through a divorce.

"There were a couple of guys who were going through it themselves, so they were able to get hold of me and give me a bit of hope that it will get better," he said.

"I'm on the other side of it now.

"I can be the person that they lean on to say it does get better because I was where you are and I'm smiling again now."

Joe Everitt said the group gave him hope to get through a divorce

Andy's Man Club meets every Monday evening.

A ball is passed around the group, allowing men to talk openly about the positive and negative aspects of their week.

Tom Hubbard joined after struggling to adjust to civilian life after 22 years in the military, including tours of Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Once I left I found myself very much an island by myself," he said.

"This has given me a safe place to talk, share my experiences and not feel judged."

Facilitator Duncan Partington agreed.

He joined after going through a family crisis and said he now meets up regularly with men he's met from the group:

"From being in that very dark place, I can now talk about everything, I can talk more freely at home," he said.

"It's brought me to a much lighter place but it's also given me some great friends."

The BBC CWR Make A Difference Awards will take place on 14 September.

You can find out more about them here.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, information and support can be found at the BBC's Action Line.