Discuss About It Mate is without doubt one of the authentic psychological well being assist teams that has hyperlinks with the MAN v FAT group. 

Mike Richard tells us all about it!

What do you do at Discuss About It Mate?
We concentrate on creating areas for individuals to attach in as we consider within the energy of individuals serving to individuals. 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 through the pandemic.

Alongside these, we had been in a position to join individuals via WhatsApp teams, with our major group nonetheless going robust to this present day. We run an additional soccer recreation on Monday nights and the boys know there’s somebody they will converse to in the event that they want assist.

Up to now couple of years, we have now been in a position to present a spread of face-to-face peer assist teams reminiscent of 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 operating?
I’ve at all times had struggles with my very own psychological well being which solely turned clear to me in 2004 aged 18, after I was recognized with despair. 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 happening for me, which I didn’t have.

In consequence, I struggled for 12 years earlier than experiencing a psychological breakdown and looking for assist within the type of counselling. I used to be determined for others to not undergo what I’d been via, so after I moved again to Manchester after a couple of years away I made a decision to create a small meetup group known as ‘Discuss 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 instructing 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 dwelling 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 group was nice for me, not solely was I dropping pounds and rising in confidence I used to be making new friendships too.