Suicide prevention charity Andy’s Man Club providing sunshine on Leith, and a safe space for men who need it most

Scotland’s football stadiums have always been a place where men can socialise with family and friends as they cheer on their home team.

From Monday, September 23, men from across Edinburgh will gather at Easter Road, the home of Hibs Football Club, not to discuss the team’s latest fixture or position in the Premiership, but to talk about their mental health.

This Friday, suicide prevention charity, Andy’s Man Club, will officially announce its newest, and one of its biggest, Scottish clubs at the stadium in Leith. The new group joins existing Edinburgh clubs in North Merchiston and South Gyle with the goal of reaching more men across the city.

The men behind the new club, who have all benefited from the charity, believe partnering with Hibernian Community Foundation, the charitable arm of the Edinburgh club, will help to raise awareness of both Andy’s Man Club and men’s mental health.

“I’m excited by how many people this club could help as we can fit up to 90 in this new space,” said Alan Armstrong, a co-facilitator for Easter Road alongside Davy Watters, Pok Pat Chau and James McLaughlan.

“I think this group will be very popular, not just because it’s in Easter Road and connected to Hibs but also because it’s very accessible.”

Andy’s Man Club

Andy’s Man Club runs 40 peer-to-peer support groups for men across Scotland, and a further 160 groups across the rest of the UK. While men may have historically shied away from talking about their mental health, Andy’s Man Club encourages this through powerful peer support.

Men of all ages and backgrounds are given a safe space where they can listen to other men’s experiences until they feel ready to talk about themselves.

“We all feel very supported by each other every Monday night, and keep in touch throughout the week,” said Alan, from Leith, who was previously a co-facilitator at the North Merchiston club. “We all respect one another and that creates this safe, friendly space where you can talk about things that are positive, difficult, or even traumatic.”

While men are encouraged to talk about their mental health, there’s never any pressure to do so.

“Some people will just come to sit and listen for the first few sessions,” added Alan. “Just hearing that someone else is going through something similar to you, or that they’ve come out the other side, can mean a lot.”

© Andrew Cawley

The latest statistics around male suicide in Scotland highlight the importance of organisations like Andy’s Man Club. The suicide mortality rate for men in Scotland is three times higher than it is for women. According to the National Record for Scotland, of the 792 probable suicide deaths recorded in 2023, 590 were men – an increase of 34 from the previous year.

The Easter Road group will be held in a function space within the stadium every Monday night. The larger space will allow up to 90 men to attend, with that number split into smaller groups.

‘You don’t have to man up, just speak up’

“We don’t require any referrals or bookings,” said Alan, an abstract artist, who’s been going to Andy’s Man Club for 18 months. It’s a free service so you just need to take that first step through the door, grab a cuppa and biscuit and sit, listen, and share with no judgment, fear, or shame. You don’t have to man up, just speak up!

“It took me six attempts to go to my first meeting, I was so nervous, but I never missed a week after that. It’s changed my life and helped me realise I’m worth something and have a purpose. Going to the club every Monday, means you save yourself from falling into bad habits and stop your mood from spiralling.

“If you’re feeling low, there are always people in a brighter place who can help catapult you forward, out of the darkness. Then you do the same for someone else.”

Davy Watters joined Andy’s Man Club at North Merchiston five years ago when he was struggling with anxiety and depression.

“I’d lost my confidence. I was being bullied and belittled at work and had been bottling up my emotions. I realised it was affecting my health and knew I had to talk to someone, but I didn’t want to talk to my family,” Davy, from Bingham, recalled.

“It took a few tries to get through the door, but I eventually realised others were dealing with similar problems to me and I could talk to them. Building the confidence to talk about how I was feeling is the best thing I’ve ever done.

“Now, if I’ve had a bad day, I can talk to family or my friends at the club about it. I don’t bottle my feelings or shut myself away now.”

I live on a council estate where many men don’t talk about their feelings

Davy hopes the new club will inspire more men to seek support. “I hope the Hibs connection will encourage people to walk through the door and keep coming back,” he added.

“I live on a council estate where many men don’t talk about their feelings. There’s this generational idea that you’ve got to man up and get on with things, but we don’t have to ‘man up’ anymore. We’ve got this facility where we can speak about our mental health, listen to others, share advice, and support each other on this journey. I think the Easter Road club is going to get people talking and spread the message that it’s okay to talk about your mental health.”

Andy’s Man Club joins SAMH, (Scottish Association for Mental Health) as the second mental health charity to operate from the stadium.

Daljit Singh, executive director of the Hibernian Community Foundation, said: “Alongside SAMH, Andy’s Man Club will enable us to expand mental health awareness and support within our community. This collaboration aligns with our mission to promote well-being and inclusivity.”

Find your nearest Andy’s Man Club group at www.andysmanclub.co.uk

If you’re feeling low or suicidal, or are worried about someone who is, you can call The Samaritans for free any time at 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org