A Trowbridge group set up to help Wiltshire men who are suffering from mental health issues have launched another group following its success.
The new group, which held its first meeting on Tuesday, September 3, has been so successful a second group is being launched in Melksham.
Chris Smith, 62, established the Trowbridge Man Down as part of a network that originated in Cornwall but is now expanding nationwide.
After the number of attendees soared from five at the first meeting to 30 at the fourth meeting he decided to set up a new group.
Chris said: “At our first meeting at St Thomas’s Church Hall off Timbrell Street five brave men joined us and at the second meeting on September 17 there were 16.
“Twenty-three turned up for our third meeting on October 1 and at our last meeting on October 15 there were 30.
“It has been a major success but a mixed blessing as it appears so many men need help and support for mental health issues.
“At the last meeting we had men from Trowbridge, Chippenham, Melksham, Warminster and Westbury, including14 new attendees.
“We had to split the group into two, with regular attendees in one room and the new attendees in another.
“The size of the group was too big for a two-hour meeting. Not everyone would have had the chance to talk.”
Mr Smith was inspired to start Trowbridge Man Down after suffering from anxiety and depression for 12 to 18 months and finding little or no support available locally
He says his ambition has always been to expand to other towns across Wiltshire with help from Man Down UK, a not-for-profit community interest company.
“We provide informal peer-support talking groups free of charge for men with mental health concerns,” said Mr Smith, a project manager.
“Together, we can end the mental health stigma and reduce the number of male suicides.”
The new Melksham Man Down group will meet on Tuesday, November 5 at Bowerhill Village Hall, Halifax Road, Bowerhill, Melksham, SN12 6YH.
Mr Smith added: “You can just turn up, it’s free to attend, and there’s no need to book. You can watch, listen or join in and share, it's up to you.
“We offer peer support from lived experiences and are non judgmental, supportive and completely confidential.”
Meetings are held from 7pm to 9pm. Further meetings will be held on November 19, December 3 and December 17.
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