NEXT week will see the launch of the latest support group helping men in Essex.

Andy's Man Club is a national organisation offering men peer to peer talking support groups which meet ever Monday night (except Bank Holidays) across the country between 7pm and 9pm.

A year ago, the first club opened in Essex, AMC Southend, offering a face to face, peer to peer talking group for men in Southend at Southend United Football Club.

Since then, nearly 700 men have walked through the door, some have come and gone, some come now and then, some come every week and a few have stepped up to help facilitate the Monday night sessions.

Now the group is looking to open another Essex group in Basildon, on Monday, 23 May. You can find details via this link: https://www.facebook.com/Andys-Man-Club-Basildon-115856514421232

And to help encourage men to join, Darren Smith has told his story. He relates how he was close to suicide and was sectioned, but the Andy's Man Club helps save him

He says: "I would like to continue to open as many AMC groups across Essex as I know from my personal Mental Health struggles, had I had access to Andy's Man Club over the years, it would have made my journey a lot easier.