A WALKING group which aims to break down the stigma around mental health in men is returning to Minehead for 2025.

Founded by Dan Reid in Telford, the Men Walking and Talking (MWAT) groups work to bring men together in a safe space to talk about mental health. With only one attendee on the first walk in 2021, the initiative has now grown to boast 30 walking groups across 16 counties.

In 2022, Men Walking and Talking became a Community Interest Corporation (CIC) and in November 2023 they became organisational members of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS).

The Minehead group is headed by former police officer Mark Curran and runs every Monday in Wellington Square at 7pm.

During his 23 year-long career as a uniformed Police Constable, Mark developed anxiety and, at times, severe depression, he says. During this period, four of his male colleagues took their own lives in just over a year.

Mark said: “The biggest lesson I’ve learnt is that men don’t talk about themselves.

“I’ve survived and am now in a much better place, but want to assist others in recovering, too. When I saw the Men Walking and Talking Facebook page, I immediately felt this was something I could do.

“It's about helping men to get past their reservations about opening up, when they are in a dark place.

“We don't offer counselling or direct advice, but by building social links and knowing the group is about ‘heads’, we can at least be a start point, to getting help.”

As well as weekly walks from Wellington Square, the group also organise longer weekend walks, movie nights and barbecues among other activities, with a prospective national MWAT gathering this summer.

To find out more, visit www.menwalkingandtalking.co.uk