How simply walking and talking is helping men to tackle deadly problem

“MEN are supposed to have this stoic, hardy, I don't cry, I’m a man attitude, but that doesn’t work,” says Michael Speirs.

- By RHIANNON DUNBAR

The 27-year-old found his new home town was lacking in something important when he moved there last April.

But he had a solution, one that involved gathering in a cold Long Eaton park.

Mr Speirs, concerned with the stigma around men’s mental health, set up a branch of Men Walking and Talking.

The mental health walks were started by Dan Reid in Telford, Shropshire in 2021, with the aim of bringing men together to support each other and end the stigma around men’s mental health. Since its creation, Men Walking and Talking has grown to offer 34 walks across 17 counties.

Mr Speirs was previously part of the group in Birmingham and, after finding out there was nothing similar in his new town, took on the task of leading a new weekly walk.

He says: “There were a few walking groups and there were a few mental health groups, but there was nothing that did them both.

“And I found that when I was at the Birmingham group, I found it really helpful to do them both at the same time. Because you get the chance to go out, and even if it is just one lap around the park or something like that, you get that chance.”