A mental health support group celebrated its third year of helping Perth men at the end of last week.
Andy’s Man Club was introduced in the Fair City in September 2017 by Alex McClintock and Adam Allison.
Despite facing challenges in recent months due to coronavirus restrictions, the anniversary was marked with a Walk and Talk event.
Participants, following social distancing guidelines, met on Tay Street before walking around the city’s North Inch.
Alex and Adam, who both work for the Scottish Prison Service, set up the group in Perth initially because of a lack of mental health support for prisoners.
Meetings began on September 4 2017, following the model of the national Andy’s Man’s Club movement that has been operating for four years.
However, the Perth group quickly grew as they realised there was a wider need for support. Meetings for men were extended into the community two weeks later, and 11,000 visits were made in its first year alone.
Alex said the past three years had been rewarding for everyone involved.
“To see people walk through the door because they knew what Andy’s Man Club is was humbling,” he said.
“And to see the guys grow as well has been humbling.
“It has gone from strength to strength.
“Helping the guys – it helps me with my mental health journey too.”
Alex said he had noticed a positive shift in mental health recognition and awareness in recent years.
He added: “I think everyone in Perth knows about Andy’s Man Club as a community group.
“I think more and more people are aware that just because you have an illness you can’t see, it doesn’t mean it isn’t there.”
Andy’s Man Club began in Halifax, Yorkshire in 2016 following the suicide of 23-year-old Andrew Roberts.
His brother-in-law Luke Ambler set up the group in the town in Andrew’s memory. The group now supports men across the UK in its country-wide branches.
Until recently the Perth group met every week in the Muirton suite at Mcdiarmid Park, however members have continued to support one another throughout the pandemic by using virtual means of communication.
Despite the challenges presented since March, Alex the team still plan to extend the group to elsewhere in Scotland and the rest of the UK.
Alex said: “We are hoping to have another three groups in Scotland.
“We’d like to have groups in the central belt, and we are in discussions for a group in Aberdeen.
“That is our 10-year goal – to get in every major city across the UK.”
Details of how to join Andy’s Man Club can be found on the group’s website.
