Walking support group Mental Health Mates finally comes to Sheffield, providing a support network for those struggling and wanting a breath of fresh air. <\/p>\n\n\n
Mental Health mates is a national movement founded in 2016 which allows those who are struggling to go on organised walks with others who could be feeling the same.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Despite there being over 120 walking groups (according to the Mental Health Mates website), before December 2022 there were no Mental Health Mate group walks in Sheffield.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This prompted Jane Pitcher, 48, to create the first one in Sheffield.<\/span><\/p>\n She said: <\/span>\u00a0\u201cI found myself struggling because everything that could have hit me in the past few years has hit me. Bereavements, I lost my job, and friendships ended after a very stable, happy and content life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhen things like that happen, I deal with it by helping others. That’s why I started the walking group.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Whilst the leaders of each walk may have their own struggles, the main aim of the walk is to give each other peer support.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Jane Pitcher said: \u201c<\/span>I believe the Mental Health Mates walks can feel easier to join than a \u2018sitting and talking\u2019 group. We have a code of conduct which encourages everyone to be respectful and understanding as to whether people want to talk or just want to walk quietly.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The newly formed Sheffield Mental Health mates group was officially formed in December 2022 and the walks themselves take place every month in Endcliffe park.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ms Pitcher said: \u201cGetting outside really helps me every single time so with the group i know how hard it is to step a foot outside the door but once you are out you know you can feel the benefits so i am really trying to make the groups feel accessible and know that i will accommodate them even if they just need that extra help to get out the door.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The walks do not claim to be a replacement to therapy or counselling but purely a chance to get out in the open and spend time with likeminded people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ms Pitcher said: \u201cMental health is not taken as seriously as physical health and it needs to be taken more seriously but it’s still a hard thing to admit and I feel like starting the walks was a very simple and easy way to help.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Walking support group Mental Health Mates finally comes to Sheffield, providing a support network for those struggling and wanting a breath of fresh air. Mental Health mates is a national movement founded in 2016 which allows those who are struggling to go on organised walks with others who could be feeling the same.\u00a0 Despite there […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":93,"featured_media":47202,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n