A Bermondsey man has set up the area’s second men’s mental health group, based mostly in Southwark Park.
The Heading the Rite Direction group walks around the park twice a week. Founder Warren Mack, who is from nearby Southwark Park Road, set up the group in March this year.
A veteran of the Proper Blokes Club, the SE16 area’s other walking group, which has been featured in the News, Warren said his group was smaller and more targeted.
Warren said he takes his small regular group of men out to a cafe once a week to check in with them, and has regular phone calls with them. He also brings therapists on the walks, who can offer professional advice. “Sometimes just talking isn’t enough – you’ve got to be talking about the right things. I want to get deep with people, I want to have that closer connection. These guys are my friends,” he said.
“We only walk around Southwark Park because I wanted it to be inclusive. We’ve got guys that can’t necessarily walk that far and I don’t want them to be left behind. When I lead a walk I lead from the back of the walk.”
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Warren also shares other mental health advice and resources on his Facebook page. “I want that to be a yellow pages for men’s mental health,” he said.
The group isn’t just targeted at men: there is a mixed walk in Greenwich Park on Saturdays, where people can also bring their children. Warren said this walk will also visit other local parks in future. Meanwhile his daughter, who turns eighteen in a few weeks, will also be organising a walk in Blackpool.
Check out Heading the Rite Direction.