Manchat – men’s mental health at Clanmil

January is a notoriously unpopular and difficult month for many to navigate, not least because of the dark evenings, the anti-climax of Xmas being over and payday being way off.

So, it was heartening to see a company such as Clanmil (a housing association based in Belfast) open to having a 1-hour session with Dave Keeling on men’s mental health called Manchat.

The session objective was to create a space where men (and anyone else who’d care to join in) could talk freely about mental health and well-being. According to the Mental Health Foundation, the number one reason men don’t feel able to talk about their own mental health is purely down to embarrassment, especially when it comes to their own peer group.

Through conversation and interaction, the session explored:

●      Myths and facts surrounding mental health
●      The mental health continuum - which promotes dialogue and helps us to spot the language and behaviours of someone who may be slipping from thriving to struggling
●      The 4S’s which stand for Spot, Stop, Support and Signpost - a system to help support and guide someone who may be experiencing difficulties that are impacting negatively on their daily lives

The session was full of open, honest, frank and engaging conversations interjected with laughter, reflection and practical tools that can help men have more helpful, productive and positive conversations about mental health