After overcoming his own mental health struggles, a man has set up a wellbeing group to offer support to men in Abbots Langley.
James Knott founded Man Made earlier this year because he felt there was a need for a group which could support the mental health of men across Abbots Langley, Watford and surrounding areas. The group is run weekly at Leavesden Country Park, a site which James feels is apt due to its historical use as a mental hospital.
He said: “The sessions provide an open forum for open discussions of feelings with like-minded people. An environment like a pub isn’t necessarily conducive to these kinds of conversations, so the groups create a safe space to talk about struggles and emotional pain, as well as celebrating personal achievements.”
James himself is no stranger to mental health issues, having been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa back in 2015. He is now keen to share his own recovery journey with other men.
By day, James is a health and safety manager in the construction industry, so he is well aware of the challenges men face in articulating their feelings.
He said: “It’s all about getting people talking. Once they have warmed to you, they’re much more likely to seek help.”
The group also welcomes guest speakers and recently hosted James Lindsay, who discussed his new book, Befriending my Brain: A Psychosis Story.
If you would like to attend, you can visit the HIVE building in Leavesden Country Park, where sessions run every Thursday from 6.45pm to 8pm.
Photo Credit: Man Made
Thanks so much for mentioning my book ????
Befriending My Brain: A Psychosis Story https://amzn.eu/d/cWl5Yy5
It’s a memoir about my experiences with mental illness, including being sectioned, recovery and relapse. I am hoping it can help a lot of people ????