Men’s mental health walking group ‘breaking down barriers’

6 September 2024

A West Midlands Police Federation member who set up a walking group to support men’s mental health says if it helps one person it’s been a success.

The walking group was set up by PC Dan Phillips, who says it has grown bigger than he ever imagined with more than 1,400 members on its Facebook page.

And with World Suicide Prevention Day approaching on 10 September, he hopes it will help to reduce the stigma around mental health, particularly among men.

Figures from the Samaritans show that in 2022 there were 5,284 deaths by suicide. The male suicide rate was 16.1 per 100,000, compared to a female suicide rate of 5.3 per 100,000.

Dan said: “Whatever we can do to breakdown that stigma and get people to talk about it and give them an option rather than seeing one way out, that’s our goal.

“If we can help one person then the group has been a success. It’s breaking down the barriers, for men in particular, because we don’t talk about it.”

Chief Constable Craig Guildford joined the group for its family fun day.

The group, Back and Forth – Men’s Mental Health, reaches its one-year anniversary in October. It was created as a tribute to Dan’s friend and colleague PC Marc Forth, who died by suicide in April 2023.

Initially it was for male officers in West Midlands Police but has attracted walkers from outside the Force, with Dan estimating membership is around 50 per cent police officers and 50 per cent non-police officers.

The group has recently started social events every Friday at Broadstreet Rugby Club in Coventry and the Canal Bar and Lounge in Rugby hosts another social evening on the second Thursday of each month.

Charity status

It has recently received a grant from Rugby council to invest in merchandise to sell and an application for charity status is ‘well on its way’.

And Dan is looking to put up plaques around West Midlands Police stations with QR codes to direct people to the group and support, should they need it.

“We are going from strength to strength,” said Dan. “I am really proud of it. It’s busy but it’s a rewarding busy because it’s something that people need.

“It’s grown much bigger than I thought it ever would. When I set it up I didn’t know if anyone was going to get involved or turn up.

“The first couple of walks there were a couple of us and now it’s gone massive. It’s really rewarding.”

Family fun day

Back and Forth – Men’s Mental Health has received the backing of Chief Constable Craig Guildford, who joined members at the group’s family fun day earlier in the summer at Draycote Water near Rugby.

Dan explained: “We keep getting family members putting blokes forward and tagging them on Facebook, but blokes don’t tend to come because of the social stigma.

“We thought if we put a family fun day on then family members would bring their blokes and they will be a bit more relaxed.

“The Chief came to that and did the full walk around Draycote Water and had an ice cream with us at the end of it, which was great. He has got really on board with it.

“He would like representatives across the Force to take in walks in different areas and to spread it out across the Force.”

Positive impact

Dan said he can see that the group is having a positive impact for people.

“One lad in particular, Liam, came to a walk in October and was withdrawn from everybody. But over the next couple of weeks he came to more walks and started talking more. He has thrown himself into it and the change in him is massive.

“He is now a co-founder, and is arranging things, and when people join the WhatsApp group he is the first to welcome them.

“He is putting back in what he has got out of it, and there are quite a few people like that, which is great.”

In support of World Suicide Prevention Day, the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) is holding a free webinar to open conversations about mental health and provide support in policing.

More information, including registration, is available on the PFEW website.