It’s a damning statistic.
Suicide is the single biggest killer of men under the age of 50 in the UK.
Perhaps even more shockingly, 42 per cent of men aged between 18 and 45 have at one time or another contemplated taking their own life.
With pressure building on NHS mental health support during and after the pandemic, members of Perth Rotary Club were impressed by a presentation highlighting the sterling work being done in the Perth and Kinross community by suicide prevention charity Andy’s Man Club.
That prompted rotarians to select Andy’s Man Club, along with the Cornhill Macmillan Palliative Care Unit at Perth Royal Infirmary, as one of the main beneficiaries of this year’s Perth Silent Auction, run annually in tandem with the Perthshire Advertiser.
Regular backers, The Cameron Group, are again supporting the fundraiser.
The auction is live online at www.perthsilentauction.co.uk and businesses and individuals are being urged to support the fundraiser with further donations of lots which will go under the hammer on Saturday, December 10.
Andy’s Man Club meets on Monday evenings from 7-9pm at McDiarmid Park, in a safe and judgement-free environment letting males over the age of 18 know that “It’s Okay to Talk.”
Andy’s Man Club is the brainchild of Luke Ambler – a former Rugby League player from Halifax – who sadly lost his brother-in-law Andy Roberts to suicide in 2016.
Luke started Andy’s Man Club in his memory and it has been rolled out in 10 locations across the UK, with Perth the first club north of the border.
It’s no coincidence the club meets on Mondays. The day and time were selected for a specific reason. Not only was this when Andy Roberts took his own life but statistics show that this is the most common time for people to die from suicide.
Project development champion Alex McClintock said: “Men can pop along for a chat, have a cup of tea or coffee and some biscuits.
“They can listen to men in a similar situation and, if they wish, share their stories and feelings. In this day and age, there should be no stigma in being frank about mental health.
“The free-to-attend club is a place to get things off your chest and to meet new people who know what you’re going through.
“We are delighted that Andy’s Man Club has been selected as one of the beneficiaries of the Silent Auction.
“The funds donated will be very much appreciated and will help enormously with our ongoing work supporting men’s mental health across Perth and Kinross.
“Our key message is that ‘It’s Okay to Talk’ and the generosity of everyone supporting the Silent Auction will help in creating safe environments to do just that.”
For more information contact info@andysmanclub.co.uk
