Alex Mcclintock and Billy Ramsay

Alex Mcclintock and Billy Ramsay   "Andy’s Man Club”

ANDYSMANCLUB 

The talk to the Club about Andysmanclub by Alex Mcclintock and Billy Ramsay (his first to a group) was inspirational and emotional, but did not make for easy listening.  It highlighted the very high levels of males in the UK who take their own lives.  Of some 6,000 deaths from this cause each year, some 75 per cent are male. 

Andysmanclub is a men’s mental health charity, offering free-to-attend talking groups for men that challenge the stigmas around male mental health.  Following the death of her son Andy, who had suffered from mental health problems, his mother was jointly instrumental in establishing the club. It started off as a group in Halifax. That first night nine men turned up and spoke. There was, Alex maintained, ‘a magic in the room that night’ that everyone knew had to be shared.

Those present knew that there were many other men across the country who were in need of, and could benefit from, this experience. From that beginning, the club has flourished, testament to the need for such support. There are now 69 clubs throughout the UK, with 23 in Scotland.  The target is, ultimately, to be able to offer a club that is within 30 minutes travel of any given post code

Club meetings are held on Mondays between 7 and 9 pm, the day chosen because it is on Monday that it is most common for men to take their own lives.  Any male over the age of 18 can attend, with some 1700 attending on a weekly basis across the UK.  Men find it particularly difficult to express their feelings; getting them ‘through the door’ in itself represents an important stage towards recovery. Sitting in a circle is used to encourage the exchange of experiences.  While there is no compulsion to speak, sharing of experiences is encouraged as it restores confidence and offers scope to explore alternative avenues.  Use of social media is an important element in spreading awareness of the club, and also provides an opportunity to offer access to help and support.

The charity is funded entirely by donations from members and by the work of fundraisers.  At present it has some 500 volunteers across the UK, often men who have recovered as a result of attending the club and go on to be mediators to ‘give something back’.