SUFC Foundation’s Talk Club Shines A Light On Mental Health
Talk Club, the latest addition to SUFC Foundation‘s Mental Health Support programme, is a safe space where men aged 18+ can share feelings, listen, and meet like-minded people to help improve mental health. These sessions aim to reduce the risk of suicide amongst men, which is the biggest killer for men under the age of 45 (an average of 12 men take their own lives every day).
Chris Bailey, Head of Foundation, recently attended one of these sessions and said:
“The informal environment was very welcoming and made me feel at ease. The staff were warm and friendly and were easy to talk to. The session was flexible enough to be free flowing whilst making sure everyone was involved as much as they wanted to be and the group was very supportive. […] I had the opportunity to share my thoughts, feelings and emotions and I had the opportunity to listen to others. It was useful to talk openly about any subject without being judged. There were no preconceptions, just honest conversations and supportive people.”
Dr Delroy Hall, Sheffield United’s club chaplain, also attended a recent Talk Club and said:
“What is being provided is necessary. The mental health services, as far as I understand it, are pretty much overwhelmed. I suspect there are similar projects across the country and if there weren’t, many individuals suffering from mental illness would be neglected by the system. You may not consider what you are doing is hugely significant, but if you can keep another person alive for another day, that is something of immense value. […] I think the sessions are a place where troubled men can connect and realise they’re not on their own. The consistency of the group can create a place of safety, normalcy, routine and structure when their lives, at their worst moments, can be extremely chaotic.”
Talk Club is free to attend and takes place every Wednesday, 6-8pm at the Blades Family Hub, which is located on John Street at Bramall Lane.
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