3 minute read
Walk for Mental Health
Taking steps to defeat the mental health stigma
While Liverpool grapples with its mental health problem, JOE WADDELL meets a Merseyside man who has his own ideas on what we can do to help those who are struggling
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If it wasn’t for my dad - my hero - I’d be either dead or still in my bedroom right now.” That’s the frank admission of Michael Mann from Maghull, who is trying to overcome the stigma surrounding men’s mental health using the power of walking.
Michael says he owes his life to his dad for forcing him to get out of the house, and he says he wants to be able to do the same for others.
More people are willing to talk about their experiences and that can only be a good thing, but Michael, 25, has taken it upon himself to try and help the cause even further – by getting out into the fresh air and taking a regular hike.
“It’s not the most grandiose idea really, I know that had I had something like this when my mental health was on the floor, I would have felt a lot better in myself,” said Michael of his new initiative, a scheme which sees him, and other like-minded individuals taking walks through the Merseyside countryside and simply chat about whatever they feel comfortable chatting about.
“It started off really just my dad forcing me to get myself out of the house to be honest. I’d had it tough for a few years beforehand; there was times I physically couldn’t force myself about of bed. My anxiety was that bad I was hallucinating at times, and I couldn’t even breathe. Eventually I gave in to my dad and we walked down the Liverpool Leeds canal. Before we knew it we’d walked about 20 miles.
Those walks saved my life; it wasn’t just the exercise it was the conversations I’d have with him. Sometimes he couldn’t make it, so I’d go on my own and it was fine, but I always found it best to have someone with me. That’s why I set this thing up.
“It didn’t help instantly to be fair, there were plenty of days after I went out with my dad that time were I still felt grim. The thing was though, I knew there was a light at the end of the tunnel. I can’t really explain it, I just knew that if I kept getting myself out there, bit by bit I could start to improve,” Michael said.
The Walk for Mental Health has new members joining every week from a variety of backgrounds
Michael’s struggle with his mental health is an all-too familiar issue across Merseyside. Liverpool City Council estimated that there were over 66,000 people in Liverpool living with a mental health condition in 2018 and it is expected that that number has increased “significantly” in the wake of Covid-19.
One of the newest members of the walking club, Joseph Brown said he thinks Michael is an inspiration.
“He’s amazing. He’s been through so much, he found something that helped him, and he shouted about it til people would listen. Now there’s about ten of us and counting, we’ll be a proper entourage soon!”
The Walk for Mental Health which Michael spread the word about by posting flyers in pubs across Maghull now meets every Sunday at the Great Mogul Inn Maghull station. They will decide on a route for the day over a cup of coffee and enjoy an afternoon of talking and walking.
Michael added: “It’s not always Maghull, but that takes a bit of planning in advance. We’ve gone down to the beach a couple of times.
“The location isn’t important, what’s important is sticking together, finding a place where you feel like you belong and can find a use for yourself.
“That’s what I think anyway the lads might see it differently.”
Michael hopes that other people across the country have had similar ideas and hopes that his group continues to grow as they try to heal themselves of their own issues and help break down stigma around mental health.
What started off as walking partners have now become close friends for Michael, this is what he hopes can happen across the board if more people get themselves involved.
