Health / NHS Shetland ‘delighted’ by interest in suicide prevention group
NHS SHETLAND has said it is “delighted” to hear there has been local interest in setting up a suicide prevention group for men in the isles.
Shetland News reported last week that national group Andy’s Man Club was aiming to start up a local branch, with weekly meetings encouraging men to open up and talk.
The charity’s head of Scotland, Alex McClintock, said it was NHS Shetland which had reached out to them and asked if they would be willing to start a group in the isles.
And he said there had already been around seven people signing up in Shetland for online sessions, before the Shetland News article last week.
NHS Shetland health improvement lead Nicola Balfour said they had reached out to Alex as part of work with Shetland Suicide Prevention.
“There had been a few different services and agencies getting in touch, as well as hearing directly from the public that there was a want for something like ‘Andy’s Man Club’ locally.
“We were very grateful to Alex to take the time as part of ‘Time to Talk’ day to share information about Andy’s Man Club to Shetland.”
The club aims to provide men with a safe space where they feel comfortable to talk and open up about their experience in a room free of judgement.
Balfour said they knew it could be hard for men to find spaces like this, so having a local group like this would give people a dedicated place to open up in.
“Having an Andy’s Man Club presence in Shetland would be an incredible asset and add to our wellbeing services already being provided in our communities,” Balfour said.
“We were delighted to hear that there has been local interest since the media promotion – this is the first step to establishing an Andy’s Man Club in Shetland.”
The charity is initially encouraging people in Shetland to join its online sessions – also held on a Monday from 7pm-9pm – to gauge demand in the isles.
Online meetings take place over Google Meets, with a link sent out for folk to join in from.
Anyone interested in signing up for the online sessions can email info@andysmanclub.co.uk or visit here for more information.
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