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Mental Wellbeing group The Men Who forms Moray and Nairn branch, with face-to-face meeting to take place at Mosset Park in Forres


By Jonathan Clark

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A MENTAL health wellbeing group has launched a Moray and Nairn branch.

The Men Who, set up in Edinburgh shortly after the first coronavirus lockdown in March 2020, offers men a safe space, both online and in person, to speak openly about their mental wellbeing.

The group has been brought to Moray by Vic Cameron, who began using the service online and wanted to see something similar offered locally.

Vic is a director at Forres Mechanics and has enlisted the help of the Highland League club, with Mosset Park set to host in-person meetings, which will take place roughly once a month.

'The Men Who', originally an Edinburgh charity, is forming a Moray and Nairn branch. Vic Cameron (right) and Mal Scott (left). Picture: Daniel Forsyth
'The Men Who', originally an Edinburgh charity, is forming a Moray and Nairn branch. Vic Cameron (right) and Mal Scott (left). Picture: Daniel Forsyth

Mechanics legend and Strathspey Thistle manager Charlie Brown and fellow Cans director and mental health advocate Mal Scott, whose son Martin took his own life in 2020, are also part of the venture.

Vic said: "Myself and Charlie have been speaking about starting something for three or four years but Covid came along and it never happened.

"It's great to have him and Mal on board and hopefully it's something that will help them as well.

"I really liked the style of The Men Who, which is a bunch of blokes who, through their own issues, are aware of mental wellbeing and the lack of services available.

"They have realised the main thing men should do is talk to each other – which is what the group does through its talking circles.

"I had a few mental wellbeing issues myself and found the group really useful.

"It's an informal circle for men to open up and talk about our own mental wellbeing, how we are doing and what we are thankful for.

"It is not there to diagnose mental illness, but it can point people to services if that's what they are looking for.

"I asked the Edinburgh group if we could replicate the group in Moray and they have been really helpful in making that happen."

'The Men Who', originally an Edinburgh charity, is forming a Moray and Nairn branch. Vic Cameron (right) and Mal Scott (left). Picture: Daniel Forsyth
'The Men Who', originally an Edinburgh charity, is forming a Moray and Nairn branch. Vic Cameron (right) and Mal Scott (left). Picture: Daniel Forsyth

One of the founders and trustees of The Men Who, Joe Anderson, recently moved from Edinburgh to Nairn – and he has been instrumental in helping the group form.

The support of the board at Forres Mechanics has also been gratefully received, Vic added.

"They are backing the project 100 per cent," he said. "Everybody is totally up for it and wants to support us, hoping that we can do some good.

"We are starting meetings on Zoom, online, but we hope to occasionally go to Mosset Park and use the boardroom, changing rooms or stand.

"It's somewhere safe for blokes to go, whereas they might not go to the town hall or the health centre.

"We have also had emails of support from Rothes and Strathspey, who will help us by sharing our posts online."

The Men Who held its first online session on Wednesday, July 6, at 7pm. Group meetings will take place every week at that time.

Any man who wants to attend a meeting will be made welcome.

Vic added: "If you don't want to come to the face-to-face meetings then you can just come to the online ones.

"There are no judgements, it's a safe space where you can say what you want. Everybody is really supportive."

The Men Who's Instagram page can be found at www.instagram.com/themenwho_/?hl=en.

For more information, or to sign up for the meetings, get in touch with Vic at vic.cameron2803@btinternet.com.


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