Life Rooms Southport are hosting ‘Men’s Mental Health Awareness’ sessions as part of a national campaign to encourage people to talk about their problems over a cuppa and change ‘Blue Monday’ into ‘Brew Monday’. The centre for learning, recovery, health and wellbeing, which was opened last May, is due to host ‘Men’s Mental Health Awareness’ sessions which will include pastoral and pathways advice, help with recovery college enrolment forms and talks from speakers with lived experience.

The sessions will be held between 11.00am and 3.00pm on Monday, 15 January, 2018, the third Monday in January, which is widely known as ‘Blue Monday’ because it’s the day of the year when people are most likely to feel down over factors like the dark nights, Christmas bills and the cold weather.

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust are spearheading the national campaign to change the emphasis of Blue Monday by encouraging friends, relatives and work colleagues to all sit down with their favourite brew and talk about their problems, so they can access services quicker if they need help.

They are particularly targeting men in this year’s campaign because, according to the latest Suicides in the UK report from the Office for National Statistics, around three quarters of all suicides in the UK in 2016 were male.

“Every time anyone talks about mental health, the stigma surrounding it is also mentioned and we believe our mental health awareness sessions can help break that down,” said Michael Crilly, Mersey Care’ s Director of Social Inclusion and Participation.

“Traditionally men find it harder to talk about their problems and by encouraging them to attend an awareness session, and possibly talk over a cup of tea or coffee, we hope those who may find it difficult to discuss problems normally can open up in a supportive and sympathetic environment.

“We often hear people speak about the need to ‘get fit’ and here at the Life Rooms we’re keen to help people develop good mental fitness, which is just as important as physical fitness. This is all part of our commitment towards the health and wellbeing of service users, carers, their families and the local community. Through workshops and sessions at the Recovery College and with our pathways advisors, we aim to provide key life skills that will enhance their recovery.”