Speak About It Mate is among the unique psychological well being assist teams that has hyperlinks with the MAN v FAT neighborhood.
Mike Richard tells us all about it!
What do you do at Speak About It Mate?
We specialize in creating areas for folks to attach in as we consider within the energy of individuals serving to folks. Our work has developed over the previous 5 years from informal meetups and occasions in Manchester to extra organised peer assist areas which we had been in a position to transfer on-line in the course of the pandemic.
Alongside these, we had been in a position to join folks by way of WhatsApp teams, with our important group nonetheless going sturdy to today. We run an additional soccer recreation on Monday nights and the lads know there’s somebody they will communicate to in the event that they want assist.
Prior to now couple of years, we’ve been in a position to present a spread of face-to-face peer assist teams similar to males’s teams and blended strolling teams. Now we provide three weekly daytime males’s teams in Salford with lots of the individuals being referred into us by social prescribers.
How did you get TAIM up and working?
I’ve all the time had struggles with my very own psychological well being which solely turned clear to me in 2004 aged 18, after I was identified with melancholy. The panorama has modified significantly since then and searching again I can see that what I actually wanted was areas to speak and open up about what was occurring for me, which I didn’t have.
Because of this, I struggled for 12 years earlier than experiencing a psychological breakdown and searching for assist within the type of counselling. I used to be determined for others to not undergo what I’d been by way of, so after I moved again to Manchester after just a few years away I made a decision to create a small meetup group known as ‘Speak About It Mate’ since then it has modified my life for the higher in each manner.
I used to be in a position to cease educating and begin coaching as a counsellor alongside rising TAIM, now I juggle each roles and issues are rising on a regular basis.
What’s TAIM’s relationship with MAN v FAT?
Following my breakdown and whereas I used to be residing in London I made a decision (whereas having remedy) to lastly sort out my points with confidence and shallowness. As this principally got here from how I felt about my weight, this was the primary time I’d ever thought-about making an actual change.
I joined MAN v FAT in Leyton and performed up till coming again up north, after I joined the freshly launched Salford league. After some time I additionally joined the Manchester league. Being a part of the neighborhood was nice for me, not solely was I reducing weight and rising in confidence I used to be making new friendships too.
