Two men behind a Southampton mental health support group are urging vulnerable men to seek help if they need it.

Mangang was founded by health and safety consultant Andy Bishop in 2019 after years battling with his own mental health. 

Andy is encouraging men who may be struggling to speak out after revealing there are two suicides a day in the UK construction industry.

The 52-year-old said: "Three words are associated with mental health - depression, anxiety and suicide - but mental health is so much more. Mental health is about redundancies, grief, trauma, separation from your kids or financial insecurity. 

"The mental health support system in place in the UK is not set up to support people in crisis - it can take a long time to get in front of a mental health specialist.

"This is why organisations like Mangang need to exist - to fill this crisis gap."

READ MORE: 2,500 children hit by mental health illnesses in Southampton

Andy, a former sergeant, attempted to take his own life in 2010 and again in 2012 after leaving the military.

He added: "I was diagnosed with bipolar in the military and gave it a good stiff ignoring. After attempting suicide in 2012, I made a pledge to improve my own mental health.

"Historically men are not taught how to speak about emotion - if we don't speak about emotion, how can people know what we are feeling."  

Mangang is connected with mental health crisis teams, GPs and charities.

The group have a 24/7 WhatsApp chat with over 140 participants.

This is where people can talk and find support when they are in a crisis.

Mangang also hosts walk-in meetings across the city.

Kirk James Wadmore, 52, from Millbrook said: "After a bike accident and several operations someone recommended that I see a psychologist. I was then diagnosed with complex PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder, OCD, anxiety and depression.

"Mangang has helped me massively. I feel comfortable to talk to people, there is no judgement at all.

"We had bank managers, gardeners, builders and farmers - people that I would have never thought I would have been able to relate to."

Kirk said his advice to anyone struggling is to tell just one person.

"That's enough to start getting the support you need."

More information can be found at https://mangang.org/

  • Call Samaritans for support on 116 123