Men's mental health group 'gives me strength'

The MAN UP service provides men with an opportunity to socialise

A new group offering free weekly support to help men improve their mental health says its members "open up and find themselves in a better place."

MAN UP Gloucestershire is a peer-to-peer support group providing a safe space for men aged 18 and up to open up and talk.

Facilitators of the group report that nearly half of men do not discuss their worries with friends.

"You can almost at times see that physical change in people, from when they first come along," said Daniel Cox, group founder.

The group hold weekly sessions where men can open up about their mental health

"They might have carried the weight of the world on their shoulders for however long," he added.

The group recently launched a new session in Prestbury, adding to their existing locations in Churchdown and Newent.

Mr. Cox, a former army service member from 2004 to 2011, developed the group based on his own experience with mental health challenges after leaving the military.

He said that transitioning back to civilian life was a "massive culture shock."

The sessions are free and involve peer-to-peer support

"It was difficult adjusting to taking care of myself and losing that sense of team camaraderie," he said.

"I know I'm not unique in that—a lot of [veterans] go through the same thing."

For the past five years, he has found great value in running MAN UP Gloucestershire.

"We don't make any money from this," he said.

"But what I gain from helping others—and from being helped myself—is worth as much as any financial reward. It gives me strength to get through another week."

'A better place'

James Gorton, the group’s new session coordinator, first attended in 2022 after his GP recommended it.

He said the group provided men with a judgment-free space to share experiences with like-minded individuals.

"Within a few sessions, men start to open up and find themselves in a better place," Mr. Gorton explained.

While the group offers a basic level of support, facilitators can also direct participants to other services if additional help is needed.

A women’s group, Woman-Up, is also available in Churchdown at the GL3 Community Hub.

All groups meet on Tuesday evenings from 19:00 to 21:00 GMT.