We're a group of guys from South Yorkshire who all met by using AndysManClub groups in the town. Having our own issues in life and using the group gave us the confidence and desire to tell our stories and experience to try and break down some of the stigma around mental ill health.
Men, from all walks of life, all ages with one common goal... so Lads....... Let's Talk.
Who we are....
Ian Co-Host
Ian in his 40's and is a rail professional and facilitator at an Andy's Man Club as well as being a mental health first aider. His main objective is to reduce male suicide and to encourage people to open up.
With a background in rail as well as a degree, and career related suicide experiences, Ian brings a perspective rooted in both lived experience, along with the ripple effects from suicide as well as having supported a variety of men through their journeys at Andy'sManClub.
Ian was never really a believer of mental health, thinking it was all literally in your head. After an incident on the railway, Ian has lived experience of how other people's actions can affect you and those around you.
Rich Co-Host
Rich is in his 50's and works in the Heating and Air con sector and a facilitator at AMC. He also volunteers for Samaritans as well as doing numerous mental health based courses in his spare time. Having suffered with mental ill health for a few years he also has lived experience of how mental ill health can affect people.
Being a huge advocate of peer to peer support, Rich is open with his thoughts and experiences as talking about it helps.
Chris Co-Host
Chris is in his 30's and a facilitator at Conisbrough AndysManClub and has recently completed a level 3 mental health first aid course. With working in the construction industry with many different construction companies and promoting Andy's man club, to the point where some companies are now displaying posters on site noticeboards and in canteens. His main aim is to provide anyone who is struggling with mental health by assisting them to get the information and support they need.
Chris struggled with his own mental health from a young age due being the victim of school bullying to the point he came home with broken bones and severe anxiety just completing even the simplest personal tasks, multiple attempts at taking his own life led him through the doors of AMC, originally at Tesco's on Drummond street in Rotherham but later moving to Conisbrough when life events moved him to another area. Chris aims to make sure he can use his own experiences and the positive impact that Andy's Man Club has made on his life can be shared with others who need help
Andrew Co-Host
Andrew is the full time carer for his ill wife, as well as a facilitator at an Andy's Man Club.
Having struggled with his mental health for a number of years he came very close to taking his own life. But with encouragement from friends to attend AMC he is in much better mental health and wants to give something back to help other men who need it.
Alan (aka Bear) Co-Host
Bear is an Andy'smanclub facilitator at Bramley in Rotherham. Working as a case handler and study Computer Science at University. He has promoted AndysManClub through his work and also local business. These include his own family ran and friends in order to spread the word of men's mental health and the need for help.
Bear had struggled with his own mental health as for back as he can remember. Receiving several years of treatments from facilities and doctors. After spending year of walking the wrong path to try and make sense of the world and his own mind he found a group of guys at AndysManClub. Although hesitant due to past trauma and sexual orientation it started very slow. Small steps, opening up little by little. Years of trauma have been broken down with regular attendance giving him the opportunity to really open up. From that point although struggling with own going mental health he became a facilitator to help and support others. Using his humour to make people smile and spread a little joy where he can.
Carl Co-Host
Carl is an Andy's Man Club Facilitator at RUFC ground in Rotherham. Having dealt with trauma, first and second hand, Carl now uses his knowledge and experience to guide others. He feels that by giving others new perspectives, options and knowledge that they can live lives they feel more worthwhile and rewarding. He is always good for a food recipe.
When Carl joined AMC, it wasn't for the more common reasons others might have. He went because he was accustomed to being in a community environment. In his hometown, people can talk to almost anyone to vent or connect. Losing that in the UK weighed heavily on him. After spending the majority of his decade+ time in the UK telling people to talk and knowing how important it was missing in his life, his mental health focus is usually on making sure that he and others have a healthy support network of people to talk to. And oh boy, can he talk.