Men’s charity set to launch Annan branch

Andy’s Man Club (AMC) will run its first group in the town at the Market Hall on Monday September 1 from 7 pm to 9 pm.

The suicide prevention charity wants to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and help people through the power of conversation.

AMC runs weekly groups nationwide, with 6,500 men aged 18 and over attending every Monday evening.

The charity already has a number of established groups in Cumbria. After these started to be attended by people from north of the border there was an idea to launch one in Annan.

Chris Green is the AMC area lead for Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway.

He said: “It’s taken a long time to get a group (sorted in Annan), you have got to make sure everything’s in place.”

Last weekend representatives of the charity attended Annan Athletic’s game against Forfar to raise awareness. And this Sunday they will be in the town’s Tesco store from 10 am.

Chris added: “We were there (at Galabank) until the game started. It was well received by the community, it was really good.

“Annan Athletic have been really good as well to help us get into the community.”

AMC meetings are free to attend and there is no need to book, while groups are also completely confidential and free of any judgement.

Chris added: “It will be the hardest step you will ever take; but it will be the most positive step you will ever take.

“We all know what the stigma is and the barriers you put up in your mind.

“We don’t judge. People have got to want to go and do it. If you don’t want to talk then that’s okay, you can just listen and be there and realise you’re not alone.”

The Annan group will be facilitated by Chris Green, from Annan – not to be confused with area lead, also Chris Green.

Chris, from Annan, said: “I’ve been attending AMC Carlisle for a year now, and I have been a facilitator for the past six months.

“To be asked to play a part in opening the group in Annan and be the lead facilitator has been an honour.

“The amount of support we have had from the local community and businesses has been truly amazing.”

He added: “I felt like I was a broken man before I started going to AMC in Carlisle, the way the facilitators there helped me get back to who I was, and become a better person, has now empowered me to do the same for others.

“You’re not forced to say anything and we all understand that everyone is at a different stage of their own journey.

“I want to be able to help others in the way that I was helped and even if it is just one man that I help, that is one life saved from something that could be worse.

“I would encourage any male, from the age of 18, to come along, even if they don’t feel they have any issues, just to be a part of this amazing community that we have built through AMC.”

You can find out more information by visiting andysmanclub.co.uk or emailing [email protected]