A meeting group for men struggling with the mental health is set to start up in Carlisle in the new year.

Following successful group launches in West Cumbria, Andy’s Man Club is to host a first meeting in the city on January 8 and the group held a stall in the city centre on Saturday, December 9 to raise awareness.

Andy’s Man Club takes its name from Andrew Roberts, a man who sadly took his own life aged 23 in early 2016.

Andy’s family had no inkling that he was suffering or struggling to the extent that he would do this, and as a result looked deeper into male suicide and men’s mental health.

They soon discovered that male suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50, with male mental health surrounded by well-ingrained cultural stigma in the UK.

Andy’s Man Club now operates nationwide and is a volunteer led group where men aged 18 and above can speak openly about their mental health in a ‘judgement-free, non-clinical environment.’

Volunteers in Carlisle include Chris Green, Martin Fisher and Scott Squire who have all been through their own mental health battle.

“Mental health is such a big issue in the community right now and there isn’t anyone who has not been impacted by it,” said Scott.

“We’re here to try and help as many people as possible and reduce the stigma around mental health and the more we reduce the stigma, then people are more likely to seek help.

“The hardest part for many is going through the door for the first time.  

READ MORE: Fewer 'affordable homes' built in Carlisle this year

“It can be overwhelming, we know that, but we give a nice warm welcome.

“We’ve all all been through mental health problem ourselves, so we're all just volunteers helping people going through the same and I think people are comfortable with the fact that they know someone else has experienced it in the room.”

Meetings for Andy’s Man Club in Carlisle start on Monday, January 8 at Carlisle United’s Community Sport Trust’s building at 7pm.