Oswestry Men’s Mental Health Support Club was created to give men a place to connect, share and improve their mental health and to break the silence locally…don’t suffer in silence.

Organiser Dane Coleman wanted a space for men to talk, but also a place where talking leads somewhere. He’s been bringing in local speakers because, as he puts it: “We want to give people an experience which is more than just talking, of course talking is the first step, but then what?”

That “then what” lands against a tough national picture. In 2023, male suicide rates in England and Wales rose to their highest level since 1999, with new survey data also suggesting, 15.4% of men in England experienced a common mental health condition in 2023/24 according to NHS England.

Dane’s answer is to blend peer support with planned topics, guest speakers and better routes into support. The club’s website describes the aim as providing “support, advice, and a space for men to connect and improve their mental health,” and says meetings will include planned discussions on key mental health themes.

Last month the group welcomed local mind mentor Marcus Matthews, founder of Make Your Life Count. Marcus is an advanced clinical hypnotherapist whose work has gained media coverage and awards, including support for Channel 4’s SAS Who Dares Wins contestant Charlotte Fisher. Marcus reached out after Charlotte’s early exit from the show and supported her to tackle panic and anxiety, with Charlotte saying she wants to return to the challenge.

Marcus also gained widespread media coverage including in OK Magazine, when in 2022 he helped former pop star and Queen of the Jungle winner Kerry Katona with her mental health. But the reason Marcus resonates with many men is simpler than headlines. “In 2018 when I was suicidal as a serving police officer, the services on offer didn’t help me, they made things worse,” Marcus said.

“I had one question – Why Do I Feel The Way I Do? No one could answer that, so once I discovered the truth about how the mind works, my mission became helping people understand that very thing and not what they’ve been sold about mental health.”

Marcus setup Make Your Life Count after a breakdown while serving as a police officer.

For Dane, that combination of lived experience, local credibility and practical tools, fits the club’s direction for 2026. “In the name of bigger and better for 2026 I welcomed Marcus to support the group because he shares our vision, to create open and compassionate conversations for men, which are followed by action, so more men can move their mental health mountains,” he said.

Oswestry already has strong support options, but Dane and Marcus want to complement these by adding regular speakers and local services into a weekly peer space, so men leave with momentum as well as empathy. Marcus said, “It’s all about giving people informed choice about support services available.”

Join in – Oswestry Men’s Mental Health Support Club meets every Wednesday at 7pm at Oswestry Senior Citizens Club. Find out more on the group’s website www.ommh.org.uk. If you’re facing a life challenge and want a practical starting point, Marcus has a free on-demand webinar at webinar.makeyourlifecount.co.uk and you can find out more about his multi-award winning services at www.makeyourlifecount.co.uk