How a new online chat service is helping men facing mental health issues in South Tyneside

Men’s mental health charity ManHealth – which is based in the North East – has teamed up with South Tyneside Council to pilot the new scheme which aims to help men find and access support during the crisis.

With all face-to-face groups cancelled, the charity is offering a live online chat service with a trained member of staff, between the hours of 5pm-9pm from Monday to Friday.

Individuals can leave a message on the site at any time for someone to get back to them, or they can be referred through a health professional.

The service, which is now in its third week, has seen over 400 men visit the site.

ManHealth which originated in County Durham in 2017, set up its first group in South Tyneside in September last year.

Until the outbreak of Covid-19 it held regular peer support groups in South Shields and Hebburn.

Since the lockdown measures were introduced staff have been supporting its 400 members across the region online on a daily basis.

Director Paul Bannister, who launched the non-profit organisation after his own experience of depression, says the service has been “invaluable” during this time.

“It’s a really challenging time for some people. We’re trying to do anything that keeps people connected and stops them feeling isolated,” he said.

“The support we offer has been invaluable – we’re contacting a our members via Zoom.”

Paul continued: “South Tyneside Council reached out to us to see how they could support men in the borough during this time. The live chat is a free and confidential listening and signposting service.

“We’re running the service as a pilot in South Tyneside to see how it will benefit people, with the aim of rolling it out across the North East.”

He added: “The feedback that we have had from the guys who have been in contact is that it has really helped.”

Visit www.manhealth.org.uk/styne/ for more information and support.

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