TOO many men in Teesdale are bottling up their problems, officials at a mental health group have warned.
The concern is being raised by Barnard Castle’s ManHealth group because numbers attending weekly sessions have dropped since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
Only about a dozen men attend, despite fears many more are struggling with mental health issues due to successive lockdowns and isolation.
Group leader Chris Johnson said: “It doesn’t reflect the size of the town and the size of the problem. There must be an awful lot of people out there who either do not know about us, or who have not plucked up the courage to look for help.”
Mr Johnson said he fully understands the reluctance among men to seek out help, having been through the experience himself about two-and-a-half years ago when the group was set up.
He said: “I realised I needed to do something about my problem – all group leaders have experience – but the most difficult thing was coming through the door the first time. I put off coming for six weeks, but I knew I had to do something to improve my mental health.”
It was only after a close friend took his own life that Mr Johnson joined the group, he said.
He added: “I was met with open arms by the leader and each of the mates – we call each other mates.
“The meeting went around with everyone saying how they were feeling and that night’s topic was anxiety.
“I didn’t think I had anxiety. I thought I had a low mood and depression, but as it went on about the symptoms of anxiety, I had pretty much every one of them.”
Mr Johnson said each session works by people describing how they have felt during the previous week, followed by a presentation about a specific mental health issue, such as low self-esteem, anxiety, depression or anger management.
He said: “Over the next few weeks we went over all aspects of mental health – one leads into another so it is easy to descend into a spiral.
“In my opinion it cannot be cured, but with peer support it can be managed.”
He added that after the presentation, the topic is discussed among the group and those present describe how they have dealt with the problem themselves, thereby learning how to cope from each other.
Mr Johnson said: “After the meeting I felt better – not a lot better – but I realised everyone was there to support me. I suppose what stopped me was that someone would recognise me, which did happen. I recognised some of the lads.
“But because everyone in the group has issues, it was completely non-judgemental. We discussed how we were feeling which was not something we would have done if we had met at a pub over a few drinks”
According to ManHealth figures, suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 45 and men are three times more likely than women to end their own lives.
Mr Johnson said: “Men are often under pressure to appear strong and not show signs of weakness, this means they are less likely to talk about any issues they are facing.”
He urged any men with mental health issues to visit manhealth.org.uk to sign up to the peer support group in Barnard Castle.
The group meets every Wednesday between 6pm and 8pm at The Witham.
