Man Alive Project - West Midlands

There is always hope. It is eternal and infinite even if it feels like it has run out sometimes...

In 2005 Kevin Berthia went to the Golden Gate Bridge to end his life.

He ended up talking about his life with Officer Kevin Briggs for 92 minutes while he was on the edge of the bridge.

10 years later they meet on the same bridge in much better circumstances.

Good words and good people can change everything.❤️

Sunday 10th October 2021 is World Mental Health Day. Ask those in your life whether they are ok, ask twice and be prepared to listen with no agenda to any responses.

Hi Everyone, We hope everyone is okay... It's been a while so planning a sunset walk evening Weds 22nd September. Meet at British Camp Car Park 6.30pm.

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day and over 800,000 people a year take their own lives. That is a shocking death due to su***de every 40 seconds!
They are not selfish.
Those people feel like a burden to others.
They feel like the world will be better without them it.
They feel like they are of no use to others because of their ongoing battle with their mental health.
When someone has little regard for their own life they find it hard to understand that other people care deeply about them.
They feel shame. They feel guilt for their battles with their mental health.
Suicidal people don’t always want to die, they often just want the pain to end, the thoughts in their head to end, thoughts that are constantly telling them that they are not good enough, that they are a failure and many other difficult thoughts...
Every day should be World Su***de Prevention Day not just today. ❤️
***depreventionday
***depreventionday
***deprevention

Random one here but... Who is interested in Kung Fu training? Many of us are attempting to get/keep fit and I was wondering whether there was any interest amongst us in training in Shaolin Dragon Kung Fu? We may be in a position where we have this on offer to a small group of us to train once a week to keep fit and learn self defence skills, under tutorage within our ranks. It is something we could do together, to keep fit, slightly ahead of youngsters (or even do with our teenage offspring) and may be useful with the coming armageddon in mind! . Let me know if you are interested in this (probably once per week outdoors from June/July in or around Bosbury/Colwall/Malvern somewhere). Just let me know if you are interested or not so I can gauge interest please...

Thanks to all those that came out and made it for a walk last night. Great walk, great company, great for health, great sunset, great views, great beer, great evening 👍

https://what3words.com/freely.twisty.shoppers Meet up details via what three words for those coming. Meet up 7pm tonight. Walking British Camp to Wyche Cutting and back. Slighty longer walk than last time. See you there :)

Man Alive its been ages!... NEXT WALK dates for your diary = Weds 14th April 7pm & Tuesday 20th April from British Camp car park to Wyche Cutting and back, approx 1.5 hrs. Sunset walk followed by drinks in pub garden at Malvern Hills Hotel 👍 Come join us if you like for easy, fun, company, camaraderie, connection, healthy body, healthy mind, fresh air, socialising AND drinks in a real public house (outside)!? Man Alive its been ages!...

This is our contact number by the way :)

Here's meet up point for Weds eve. 7pm

///octagon.reworked.shower This is the what3words address for a 3 metre square location near Great Malvern, Worcs..

You wanna come walk with us? First official post pandemic walk of the season will take place on Weds March 31st from 7pm. Spring has sprung, clocks go to summertime soon AND we will be officially out with friends in small groups to exercise outdoors!? At last! With this in mind (and healthy bodies and minds post pandemic in mind!). Come and join us for our meet up walking in and around Malvern/Ledbury area. Hope to see you there 👍

Happy New Year everyone... So we were hoping to get back to our regular walks by now but lockdown 3.0 has got in the way of that. Don’t forget you can still exercise and walk with one other person from another household keeping social distance for mutual support (particularly over home schooling, home working, family and business pressures etc) and to do something good for your well-being. Hook up and reach out if you want to do this, either here or on the WhatsApp members group chat. Be well, stay healthy people it seems 2021 may be full of challenges still for many. Peace X

Autumn Lockdown Malvern Hills Walk from end to end tomorrow in groups of no more than 6. Starting out at 9.30am. If anyone wants to join you'd be more than welcome. Starting out from Holly Bush car park at 9.30am and heading toward British camp, Worcestershire Beacon and down from there to end at North Malvern Road, Clock Tower, North Malvern. Be nice to have some company. Need a good long walk. Starting point approximate Postcode: HR8 1ET | Grid Reference: SO 75889 36880 | What3Words: ///hypnotist.howler.crinkled. I will walk to North Malvern Road car park just off the North Malvern Road.
Approximately 9 miles/5 hours.

Lockdown 2.0. Outside exercise still permissible, with one other from another household and at social distance so we would fully encourage people on here to offer this, connect where possible through lockdown AND through the winter to take advantage of walk n talks and exercise together for well-being and man alive.
Now the dark nights are in and we aren’t meeting as regularly this is still possible with head torches etc. Connect with friends locally and continue to meet up. Put it out here if you want to invite or be invited or use private messaging. Nice one fellas. Stay safe and well. Luv n peas to all X

Wishing everyone a happy, peaceful and easy World Mental Health Day in 2020. May your mental health be good and your mental well-being strong.

End to end Autumn walk, circa 9-10 miles, Sunday 27th September, 9am start from Holly Bush Carpark 1ET, A438, Ledbury.

Next event sunset walk in west malvern 6pm - 8pm. We will take a short walk from British Camp car park on A449 (opposite Malver Hills Hotel) to The Chase Inn, Upper Colwall, for sunset Wednesday 23rd September.

World Su***de Prevention Su***de Day takes place each year.

Why is it important?
According to Samaritans, in 2018, in the UK and Republic of Ireland, more than 6,800 people died of su***de. Every life lost to su***de is a tragedy. Some say su***de is preventable, it’s not inevitable but not being okay is still widely stigmatised.

Where can I get help?
While mental health can affect any of us, at any time - it is important to stress that you are not alone.
If you feel anxious, depressed, stressed, here's a guide of where you can get support.

Samaritans
Samaritans is a registered charity who offer confidential, emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of su***de throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland.
• Call: 116 123 (Free 24-hour helpline)
• Website: www.samaritans.org

CALM
The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against su***de.
Every week, 125 people in the UK take their own lives. And 75 per cent of all UK su***des are male.
• Call: 0800 58 58 58 (The call centre is open daily from 5pm to midnight)
• Website: www.thecalmzone.net

Heads Together
Too often, people feel afraid to admit that they are struggling with their mental health.
This fear of prejudice and judgement stops people from getting help and can destroy families and end lives.
Heads Together wants to help people feel much more comfortable with their everyday mental wellbeing and have the practical tools to support their friends and family.
Heads Together is a mental health initiative spearheaded by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, which combines a campaign to tackle stigma and change the conversation on mental health with fundraising for a series of innovative new mental health services.
Website: www.headstogether.org.uk

Maytree
Maytree is a national registered charity who provide a unique residential service for people in suicidal crisis so they can talk about their suicidal thoughts and behaviour.
The charity offer a free four-night, five-day one-off stay to adults over the age of 18 from across the UK.
Their aim is to provide a safe, confidential, non-medical environment for guests. It is somewhere people can explore their thoughts and feelings, and feel heard with compassion and without judgement.
• Call: 020 7263 7070
• Website: www.maytree.org.uk

Anxiety UK
Anxiety UK is a UK national registered charity formed in 1970 for those affected by anxiety disorders.
It is a user-led organisation, run by sufferers and ex-sufferers of anxiety disorders, and offers confidential advice and support.
• Call: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 10pm; Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 8pm)
• Website: www.anxietyuk.org.uk
Men's Health Forum
Men's Health Forum is a charity whose mission is to improve the health of men and boys in England, Wales and Scotland. It was founded in 1994.
The charity offers 24-hour stress support for men via text, chat and email.
• Website: www.menshealthforum.org.uk

Mind
Mind is a mental health charity in England and Wales.
The charity offers information and advice to people with mental health problems and lobbies government and local authorities on their behalf.
• Call: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)
• Website: www.mind.org.uk

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/sep/01/male-su***de-rate-england-wales-covid-19?fbclid=IwAR3roe5G-JjE8B-O6Rr5YbiIziMmzpnVT6LOuS1mzR7_JumsVwpaH4v3b-8

Male su***de rate hits two-decade high in England and Wales Rate of 16.9 deaths per 100,000 in 2019 was highest since 2000, ONS data shows

Man Alive Project meet up This Thursday 13th August. Meet 7pm in car park at Hellens Manor, Much Marcle, Herefordshire, HR8 2LY. We will walk through gardens, meadow, fields and forest. Bring a snack and a drink (cider is best I reckon) for pit stop half way :)

Next event Thursday 13th August 7pm. Come walk with us.

This brilliant photo was created by Benji who suffers bouts of depression as a thank you note for his daughter, for being there. It speaks volumes. Both engaged in escapism, him tethered to her, mental health being a personal, family and collective issue...

Thank you to all those that showed up last night for a lovely bit of woodland walking, hill climbing, cider supping and sunset chilling... Very nice :) Hope to see you all again soon.

We are aiming to have our second event on Wednesday 22nd July at 7pm. The intention is simple; get out in nature, exercise, create new networks, reduce stress, chat mens health issues (or just walk) and most importantly hopefully reduce male su***de and violence rates in our communities. Meeting at car park, Ledbury train station, The Homend, Ledbury HR8 1BT. Just before 7pm. Anyone welcome 🙂 Hope to see you there!

The reason we come together... Look out for next event...

Hi everyone. I know some people are asking when the next meet up is. I have set up a WhatsApp group and we are trying to set a date that could be best for everyone. Some couldn’t make the last one. Some can’t come on a Thursday. We have not set a date yet. Will let you all know soon 👍

Thank you to all the Fella's that showed up for the 1st Man Alive west Mids meet up last Thursday. Great evening :)

BBC Hereford & Worcester with the lovely Malcolm Boyden

Powerful image... especially for those that may have considered taking the escape route before now... A friend of Man Alive Project did just this last week out of the blue, devastating for all those who knew and loved him! Shocking. Thoughts go out to all those suffering.

Melancholy, a sculpture created by Albert Gyorgy, portrays the void that grief leaves us with.

The sculpture depicts a figure made of copper sitting on a bench slumped over, with a giant hole in the center of it.

This hole represents the massive void that we all feel when we lose someone dear to us, and many people have expressed their appreciation for this sculpture for it portraying the exact emotions they feel, but perhaps haven’t been able to quite put into words.

So mental health has had no real mentions this pandemic by government so time to take matters into our own hands... Whose up for a meet up this Thursday at 7pm in Malvern?

So its felt like its been a shocking couple of weeks around me and for some mates... A friend having a breakdown, their family & relationship struggling, our family arguing/struggling, another friend admitting they have contemplated su***de, the second to even admit it (let alone the one's that haven't) lately, two mates who lost their partner and kids to a domestic and marrital split during lockdown, homeschooling and non schooling, educational pressures, pandemic pressures, political pressures, career pressures, working from home, losing your job and income, kids socially isolated, increased alcohol use, increase in drug use, struggling with finances, battling with anxiety & depression, anguish and despair at the world and our society right now... The evidence of human suffering goes on and on right now.

We are human with the capacity for great love, great things and great joy but also great suffering and great darkness. It feels raw. It feels tangible, its as though we are all being called to question our lives right now and also being called to be the very best we can be, now and for the new future... toward a "new normal", whatever that may be. There was nothing normal about how we were living our lives really in any case other wise it would not be feeling like the four horsemen of the apocalypse have arrived for armegeddon!?

Our newly founded ‘Man Alive’ (West Midlands) project feels really needed right now. It feels poignant. We went out wild swimming last night and came back refreshed. We will hold our first open session in Malvern for men struggling to come to terms post Covid19 or battling mental & physical health and well-being by walking in nature.

A two-hour walk is being organised on Thursday 2nd July by us, myself Tim Gunner (Coach & Psychotherapist) & friend Andy Warr (a local business entrepreneur) and we aim to help ourselves and other men to get outdoors, share experiences and shake off the stigma of men’s mental health issues and just do what us blokes do.

The intention is simple; get out in nature, exercise, create new networks, reduce stress, chat men’s health issues, and most importantly, hopefully prevent and reduce male su***de and violence rates in our communities. S**t even I lost it and booted our cockerel in the garden yesterday, to be fair he was going for me but I kicked the poor sod so hard he did a double back flip in the air and didn't come back with his normal kung fu moves (he got the message), I was so glad I wasn't snapping at my daughter or wife or anyone else.

We are from Bosbury, Herefordshire, and we formed the Men Alive Project (West Midlands) where mental health meets physical health to help other men from the West Midlands reconnect and reverse the rising trend of male su***de but also limit violence (domestic or otherwise) in our community. We don't know where this may lead us and where it may develop so join us if you want. Their is strength, unity and usefulness in numbers. Our communities have seemingly been divided, now is time to come together.

A two-hour walk is being held on Thursday 2nd July by us which will help men to get outdoors, share experience and shake off the stigma of men’s mental health issues. The two-hour walk, which is to be held regularly (we will look at other activities to according to demand), will be held on the Malvern Hills, meeting at North Quarry Car Park, N Malvern Rd, Malvern WR14 4LT, by clock tower. A two hour walk on the western side of the Worcestershire beacon.

In 2018, the West Midlands was the 7th worst region in the UK for mental ill-health and su***de. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) released figures which showed that males across the country continue to account for three-quarters of the total of su***de deaths across the UK making men three times as likely to end their own lives than women.

I met Andy through our local village community and we meet regularly, walking dogs in the countryside, running or wild swimming (we will go mountain biking when I fix a puncture on my back tyre!) this has helped us with our own mental health and well-being whilst having fun and connecting with like minded fella's... Bloke to bloke. It feels really important right now for us to come together and help ourselves whilst helping others. Embody being blokes and all that means and of course, what is said or done in Vegas "Stays in Vegas"!

We became friends and we thought… wouldn't it be great if we could get guys talking about mental health and improving their well-being? When you get a group of guys together doing training they just open up and chat naturally so we thought 'why don't we combine the two?

We wanted to 'do' something to get men talking about how they feel but also to give them an event to look forward to, as a lack of purpose is one of the biggest causes of male su***de. This means we are then part of the solution, not the problem.

I have been working in mental health, well-being and human behavior for over 20 years and both Andy and I have personal experience of anxiety, depression and what happens when men suffer in silence. I have been struggling lately and many people around me have too. Do not struggle alone, do not stay silent, do not carry burdens until breaking point... Do something positive. Come along and hang out.

Anyone welcome. Meeting at North Quarry Car Park, N Malvern Rd, Malvern WR14 4LT, assemble by clock tower.

Hope to see some of you there :)

Do men ever "grow up" or do we just grow old?

We are going up a hill for a gentle easy few mile circular walk and hopefully there may be a pub open by then, if not bring a can or two...

So we are aiming to have our first walk up a hill in Malvern on Thursday 2nd July at 7pm. The intention is simple; get out in nature, exercise, create new networks, reduce stress, chat mens health issues and most importantly hopefully reduce male su***de and violence rates in our communities. Anyone welcome 🙂 Hope to see some of you there! Meeting at North Quarry Car Park, N Malvern Rd, Malvern WR14 4LT, by clock tower.