Unresolved mental health and emotional issues means that a individual may struggle. Stress and ongoing aggression can lead to long term mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, domestic violence and even suicide. The project aims to engage with local men to reduce social isolation , increase awareness of the positive benefits of healthy lifestyle and exercise on mental health and wellbeing . Reduce the stigma and allow local men to talk and share experiences in a safe comfortable space whilst at the same time increasing awareness of local services available . We will deliver purposeful activities to create meaningful social connections, encouraging engagement with regular exercise and educate to make healthier choices in life. We aim to create local community champions who can continue to normalise the conversations around mental health and support further into the community.
What we'll deliver:
- Chai Shai - Regular Weekly 1.5 hours Peer support Group for 6 months
- Weekly Exercise Sessions for 6 months
- Weekly Workshops on coping strategies and life skills for 6 months
Why it's a great idea:
Burnley has high rates of mental health issues. We live in a deprived area where people are struggling to pay their bills and feed their families in the current cost of living crisis. All these factors means that we are stressed about how we are going to feed the family and pay our bills this can leads problems ie anxiety , depression, domestic violence and even suicide if we don't talk about how we are feeling and what struggles we are facing.
Men are often the protectors and providers so they have the pressure to be responsible for the family unit. By educating local men and normalising the conversations around mental health we can help support them if they are struggling and help them to seek appropriate help. Having a regular routine and following a healthy lifestyle has a positive effect on your mental health and reduces the risk of long term conditions such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart disease and mental health issues. It build resilience and develop coping strategies.
Steps to get it done:
- Buying the gym equipment to carry out exercise session in the community settings
- Setting up the workshops of various themes and lifestyle skills
- Paying for the venue costs
- Paying for the PT to deliver the structured exercise sessions
- Paying the counsellor to deliver the lifestyle coaching sessions
We are aiming to equip the local community to become more resilient and equip them with appropriate coping skills and strategies so that they can become local champions and help to disseminate the key messages that they have learnt during the workshops and encourage to become volunteers to continue to raise awareness in the community around key issues such as mental health, So they can recognise the signs and start to encourage other members to become more conformable discussing mental health issues by sharing personal experiences. We want to increase the awareness and reduce the stigma around mental health and allow men to feel safe that they can speak up when things are not going well and know how to seek the help that they need. By encouraging a healthy lifestyle we can offer education around healthy eating. benefits of regular exercise and how to become more active in a more friendly community atmosphere where they may feel more comfortable to engage.
