One in four of us will experience a mental health issue at some point in our lives.
Everyone should be supported to live well. As part of our Salford locality focus, we’re highlighting some of the projects in Salford that are working to improve the lives of residents by supporting mental health and providing spaces for people to talk, listen and live well.
Talk about it Mate
Talk About It Mate is a peer-support community in Salford, which encourages men to talk to each other about their mental health and anything that is going on in their lives. The groups provide a safe space for men to talk, share and learn from each other.
Mike Richard started the project in 2017 after struggling with his own mental health. Wellbeing is an important part of the approach at Talk About it Mate, and the groups aim to reduce loneliness and social isolation.
The events provide a comfortable and welcoming safe-space for members of the community to interact without judgement and take steps towards personal growth.
They have weekly groups across the city.
Langworthy Men’s Group: Mondays 1pm-3pm (Langworthy Cornerstone)
Walkden Men’s Group: Tuesdays 1pm-3pm (START The Make Space in Walkden Shopping Centre)
Eccles Men’s Group: Fridays 1pm-3pm (Eccles Gateway)
All Men’s Groups start at 1pm. No referral needed.
Just show up or contact us for an introductory chat!
Find out more on the Talk About It Mate website
START
‘START’ is a charity that delivers mental health recovery and prevention services in Salford. They provide lots of different programmes to help people reconnect with others and achieve their goals. The programmes help people to build confidence, resilience and self-esteem and are aimed at supporting people who are or who are at risk of, experiencing mental health difficulties or social isolation.
There are four main programmes delivered by START. The inspiring minds programme supports people with poor mental health. It involves weekly, studio-based creative workshops and helps people access various learning opportunities and pre- employment skills.
Reach out is START’s suicide prevention and awareness campaign. The campaign aims to reduce stigma, raise awareness and improve the public’s confidence to help people who may be struggling. As well as holding peer support groups, engagement days and creative workshops, Reach Out hosts an annual vigil on World Suicide Prevention Day to bring the community together and remember those lost to suicide in Salford.
The Wellbeing Matters programme brings together community organisations that referred by health professionals with a non-medical need, to local community assets to support their wellbeing, independence and to reduce social isolation.
Living well in Salford is a programme that supports people who aren’t able to access community mental health services, but still need that extra help to manage their mental health. Visit the Live Well page to find out more about how they support residents.
START have venues across the city and also work in a number of outreach venues within each neighbourhood of Salford.
You can find out more, including how you can support or volunteer at START by visiting their website.
Listening to people
Listening to people is a monthly group for adults with learning disabilities where people can talk about what they think about services and life in Salford.
The group feeds directly into Salford Learning Disability Partnership Board through their Learning disability champions. This helps Salford leaders make informed decisions about the services and support for people with learning disabilities.
Sean Dempsey is the ‘Listening to People’ Champion. He said;
“Being a champion is all about helping people with learning disabilities to have a chance to speak up. As a champion I can speak up on behalf of other people and represent them.
We are experts by experience and in the past we have not always been listened to but we are the experts about our own lives and what we think should be heard by the bosses.
I go to lots of other group for people with learning disabilities in the North West and nationally. I am passionate about speaking up for people with learning disabilities to help people get better lives.”
Any adult with learning disabilities can attend. The groups are a great place to come and meet with friends and get advice.
They meet face to face on the third Tuesday of every month and on Zoom on the following Thursday.
- Tuesday 18 March, 11am to 2pm, Room 1, Walkden Gateway
- Thursday 20 March, 1.30pm to 2.30pm, Microsoft Teams
- For more information contact Lindsey Brook, email lindsey.brook@salford.gov.uk or phone 07717691617.
For more information you can visit the Salford Council website.
More support in Salford
There are lots of groups and projects supporting people in Salford to live well and manage their mental health. Visit the ‘Supporting your mental health’ button below to see a directory of groups available.
Supporting your mental health in Salford
