A support group encouraging men to open up about mental health issues through a love of football is returning to Dundee.
The Changing Room is an informal 12-week programme which uses football grounds across Scotland as safe spaces for men to discuss their shared love of the sport while opening up conversation around mental health.
A new session will run at Tannadice from next week, run by Dundee United Community Trust and the SAMH mental health charity.
SAMH programme co-ordinator Gregor Dow said guests should feel relaxed when they take part in the sessions.
He said: “The main aspect of The Changing Room is to have folk turn up and join in with the craic.
“We’ll be discussing football but there will be that element of mental health sprinkled in too.”
Gregor added: “It’s a very safe environment.
“There is no judgment and everyone is really friendly. You can even be a Dundee fan or not even like football and take part.”
The sessions, funded by Movember and supported by the SPFL Trust, are aimed at men between the ages of 30 and 64.
Gregor said: “We’ll be having quizzes, there’ll be special guests who will offer advice and also some behind-the-scenes tours round the stadium.
“We also hold walk and talk sessions, which allows the guys to walk along some parts of Tannadice they may not have access to on matchdays.”
How the Changing Room starts conversations
United supporter Ross Lindsay attended the first run of sessions earlier in the year and is encouraging others to give them a go.
He explained: “I’m the only male at home so, to start with, I was just looking for somewhere I could come to get some space and speak with people with a similar interest of football.
“The biggest impact for me was my increase in confidence. I also feel I can speak about my mental health with my other half more openly now.”
Ross is hoping others will enjoy a similar boost.
He said: “Don’t talk yourself out of it before giving it a try. Even come for one session and see what you think.
“The anxiety of coming along lifts the more you come. I didn’t even realise how much it was helping at the time until I noticed I was looking forward to coming back every week.”
The community trust’s health and wellbeing coordinator, Lindsey Brown, will be running the sessions, supported by Gregor.
She said: “From our last intake I felt really privileged to be a part of everyone’s journeys in improving their mental health.
“The feedback we received showed how people are coping with certain challenges better and their confidence has grown. To be part of that change is lovely.
“I’m really excited to be able to help more people in that situation.
“This is our only mental health programme and the trust are really excited to be able to provide that to not only Dundee United fans but to the local community.”
The first session will take place at Tannadice on Tuesday November 29 from 6.30-8pm.
To book your place or for more information, email lindsey.brown@dundeeunitedct.co.uk or gregor.dow@samh.org.uk.
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