Local charity Kick Start FC are challenging people to walk 84 miles throughout the month of March in raising awareness of men’s mental health.
Every week it is reported that 84 men take their own life with 75% of all reported suicides carried out by men. Suicide is the single biggest killer of men under the age of 35. Kick Start FC have decided to challenge people to walk 84 miles to to help encourage more men to open up and talk about their mental health.
Kick Start FC founder Michael Cunningham told us “You only have to look at the statistics to understand why raising awareness on men’s mental health is so important. The stigma that attaches itself to the subject of mental health is a huge barrier for men to overcome. By raising awareness we want to make a statement that mental health problems in men are common, that there is no need to feel embarrassed and that you don’t need to go through it alone.
“The only person we are burdening by not opening up about our thoughts and our feelings is yourself. It isn’t always easy to spot the signs of poor mental health or talk about our thoughts and our feelings. By encouraging people to join us in our March For Men’s Mental Health we hope to raise awareness and money to develop more mental health first aiders in our local community.”
Kick Start FC are using the power of football to help with their mission by hosting weekly football sessions where both men and women over the age of 16 can come and play football. The football sessions are designed to help improve peoples mental health, their physical health, their social lives, their self-esteem and their overall outlook on mental health. The group have also extended their sessions to walking routes and talking about mental health.
They frequently raise money for their cause and intend to raise money through this challenge to develop mental health first aiders in the community. You can find out more and donate on their website or visit their Facebook page.
