A peer-support group for local men has proved to be in demand in the town following its launch last year.
Man Down provides a friendly and welcoming space for men to talk about issues affecting their mental health. Since its launch in October, the group has been attended regularly by men aged 20 to 82.
“The Melksham meetings are going really well,” explained Chris Smith, a local resident and lead volunteer facilitator for Man Down Wiltshire.
“We recently held our sixth meeting in Melksham, where 16 people attended, including four newcomers. We also had a representative from Wiltshire Council talk about exercise and walking-and-talking facilities.”
Key themes discussed within the group include family problems, bereavement, work-related issues and social anxiety.
“We often sit in a circle, listen, and share coping strategies,” says Chris. “We have a rugby ball—whoever is holding the ball talks about what they are feeling. People don’t have to talk; they can just sit and listen. Other men will share during their first time.
“I have one chap who has been coming regularly but still doesn’t feel strong enough to open up. However, he’s gained so much just from knowing he’s not alone and listening to the other chaps.”
The Melksham group meets at Bowerhill Village Hall fortnightly on Tuesdays at 7pm. It was the second Man Down group to launch after Trowbridge, followed by a third in Devizes due to high demand.
“The positive news is that across the three groups, we’ve held 19 meetings, with 100 individual men attending and an average of 18 men at each session. It’s going incredibly well,” says Chris, who started the group after experiencing his own struggles with anxiety and depression.
“It’s surprising how many people feel very lonely when they walk through the door.”
Along with group meetings, Man Down also offers an app with a chat function, allowing men to reach out for help at any time of the day. “The gents like this a lot,” says Chris. “It means that if someone is struggling in the middle of the night, they can send a message, and someone from the group will see it and respond.”
The name Man Down was chosen because it is the opposite of ‘Man Up’—a phrase often used to tell someone to deal with something bravely.
Chris explained, “It’s the opposite of telling someone to ‘pull your socks up and get on with it’. The group was originally founded in 2018 by Ross Jackson-Hicks in Cornwall.”
Due to the popularity of the groups, a fourth one could soon be opening in Chippenham.
For more information, visit www.mandown-cornwall.co.uk.
Pictured: Chris Smith, Melksham Man Down facilitator
