Mental health group are off to the match
A mental health group has announced their members can attend West Lothian Junior football games for free.
Men Matter and Women Matter (MMWM) operate in West Calder and Fauldhouse and their new partnership allows anyone who attends their group sessions to attend Junior games free of charge.
Clubs who have signed up to the initiative include Armadale Thislte, Bathgate Thistle, Livingston United, Pumpherston Juniors, Stoneyburn Juniors, West Calder United and Whitburn Juniors.
MMWM have grown since their inception in October 2018 and they now run sessions for men and women every week in West Lothian.
Group founder Jay Haston explained:“It all started because I had been attending group therapy sessions elsewhere and knew there was very little like this existed in Scotland for men recovering from traumatic childhood experiences.
“It is honestly the best thing I have ever done attending group therapy and I knew I had to create our own group.
“Statistics for male suicides are absolutely ludicrous so we think it is a really important and vital service we are offering.
“We just encourage people to come aboard, open up and talk. It is that simple. We have a really big community so there is a lot of people out there who we can reach. My motto is speak out don’t check out.”
Like most other mental health organisations, MMWM is reporting a huge rise in referals to use their service off the back of the Covid-19 pandemic and Jay says he has witnessed first hand the dip in people’s mental health. He is urging the Scottish government to support groups like his more.
The football clubs are just one of the community links the group have organised. They also work with Start Scotland, Wellbeing Scotland and West Lothian Voluntary Sector West Lothian to offer people more support or a route back to work.
Football therapy is another avenue the look are looking to tap into but had to put this on hold due to Covid-19.
Jay says their door is always open and encourages anyone who is struggling to get in touch and come to their weekly sessions.