Sports pundit and former footballer Chris Kamara has today launched an initiative to help men going through a mental health crisis.
Men are far less likely than women to seek help, as CWU's Mental Health First Aiders know. In the UK, around three in four suicides are by men, and suicide remains the single biggest cause of death for men under 50. Many of those men never reached out for support.
The new scheme aims to make asking for help simple and discreet. A man going through a dark patch can walk into a participating pub and say to the bar staff: "I'm here for Chris."
The name stands for: Calm-Helpful-Reassuring-Inviting-Space.
Staff will offer him a drink and take him to a quiet, private part of the pub. There he will be offered support and encouraged to contact a mental health service such as the Samaritans (free to call on 116 123, any time) or other therapy services.
Speaking on Sky News, Kamara described his own experience. After a sudden health problem affected his mental capacity, he spiralled into very dark places. With the support of friends, family and professional services, he came to accept "the new me". He said the priority is to "get out of your head", which is what allows you to begin climbing out of the darkness.
Here is the interview with Sky News:
