A charity dedicated to supporting men with mental health issues is launching a new support group in Redcar, marking an important expansion for Andysmanclub in the North East. The organization, which holds weekly meetings at nearly 250 locations across the UK, currently has just ten groups in the region—despite the North East having the highest recorded male suicide rate in England.
While Teesside, which has been identified as having the most severe mental health challenges in the area, has support groups in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton, and Whitby, Redcar had previously lacked such a resource. This will change later this month with the addition of a new group in Redcar.
The decision to launch a group in the town gained momentum in May after a talk given by Michael Chapplow, the area lead for Andysmanclub, at the Wilton Centre. The event, organized by the centre’s guest experience host, Lesley Lince, drew attention to the urgent need for mental health support for men. One of the attendees, Matt Heap, shared his personal story of struggle. Heap, a 36-year-old father of two, had attempted suicide twice and has since become a vocal advocate for mental health awareness. He is now training with Andysmanclub and will lead the new group in Redcar.
Heap reflected on his past struggles, saying, “I think I’d probably been suffering for a long time but I was still functional. I didn’t recognise or accept that there was anything going on. I was just going about my daily life, probably causing problems to others around me who were able to see there was something wrong.”
Andysmanclub’s new group in Redcar will hold its first meeting on January 20, with sessions scheduled every Monday (excluding bank holidays) from 7pm to 9pm at the Redcar Coast Family Hub in Rainbow Lane. In addition to in-person meetings, the charity will also provide an online session for anyone unable to attend.
Heap emphasized the importance of creating a space for hope, saying, “I want to highlight that there is hope, given the right opportunity and meeting the right people. I imagine there are as many positive outcomes as negative—but we rarely see that.”
Andysmanclub was founded nine years ago following the tragic death of 23-year-old Andrew Roberts from West Yorkshire, who took his own life. The charity’s mission is to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and to provide support through conversation.
Michael Chapplow expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to speak at the Wilton Centre and meet Heap, who he believes will make a significant impact in the lives of men in Redcar. “I know Matt is going to help make such a positive difference,” Chapplow said.
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