Brighton

Simon

Walk Leader, Brighton

I have been privileged in my life, both personally and professionally, to have been asked to support various men and young men who have been experiencing mental ill health who have had the trust and confidence in me to seek my support and help. Having somebody reach out and open up to you is one of the greatest honours I could ever ask for as unlike physical trauma those experience mental ill health have often made a decision to trust you and want you to support them. Equally I have been on the other side of the fence and not had the courage or the connections with people to seek help when I have needed it and that is a very dark, scary and lonely place to be. A place I want to shed light on and enable those experiencing ill health to seek help from a people and in particular other men who have had similar experiences.

Spoke to a Bloke touched my soul in many ways but most of all it inspired me through the connections and friendship I have with another UK ambassador. I wanted to follow in his path and join a network and create a band of brothers who come together in support and respect of each other to develop those friendships that can possibly prevent another man feeling as if they can no longer maintain their fight and hopefully ensure we all receive some support long before we enter those dark, scary and lonely places to allow us all to continue to be here and present in the lives of those that we mean so much to but often don't realise how important we are.