3 weeks Ago
A new group, which is the first of its kind in Brighton, has been set up to improve men’s "mental fitness" in the city. Talk Club Brighton will be held weekly at The George Payne pub in Aldrington and has been founded by David Eakins, a strong advocate for the power of conversation. The first session will be held on Monday April 21, between 7.
30pm and 9.30pm. Talk Club is a UK male mental health charity helping men to improve their mental health.
David Eakins is launching Talk Club Brighton in the hope of creating a safe space for men to discuss how they are feeling (Image: David Eakins) The pub is providing a dedicated space for men to talk openly and honestly about how they are feeling with no judgement. Talk Club is a national charity which provides a structure to each talking group session and begins by asking men to score their mental wellbeing out of ten. The idea is that participants can say as much or as little as they want to.
On average the Talk Club finds that it can raise a man's "mental fitness" by around 15 per cent. Mental fitness is a term that The Talk Club use to describe mental wellness, this is because the group's aim is to help build resilience. The charity encourages men to talk to each other about how they are feeling.
(Image: Talk Club) Inspired by his friend Ben Akers who set up the original Talk Club, David wanted to head up a branch himself. He believes the first step is simply deciding to come. "At the end of the day, it all comes down to one thing, overcoming the fear of being judged," he said.
"Once that barrier is broken, everything changes." David has first-hand experience navigating the challenges of poor mental health hopelessness. Reflecting on his mental health journey from seven years ago, he said: "Now, I’m in a really good place and I want to give that back.
"I feel comfortable sharing my story and I’ve come to believe it’s my duty as a human being to do so. "Your story gives others permission to open up and we need more people championing the power of talking." The club has already received a great deal of praise ahead of its official opening.
The George Payne pub in Aldrington will host the club. (Image: David Eakins) "I didn’t expect the level of support I’ve received so far," said David. "I initially thought it would just be strangers attending but two of my close friends, out of the seven I have, shared that they had been quietly struggling on their own.
"They will be some of the first people to come along and it has absolutely blown my mind. "We often go down to the pub every week and it's seen as a place for drinking, laughing, and banter. "But we also need physical spaces and dedicated time with a different agenda space to be real.
"Unless it’s led or facilitated with intention, these deeper conversations just don’t happen. "That’s why this group matters." Apart from raising the club's profile through the usual channels, David has also been asking local pubs to put posters in their toilet cubicles.
He wants them placed in both the male and female toilets so that loved ones might start conversations about coming to the club. He added: "For me, Talk Club is a bit like tribal therapy, where a close-knit group of guys feel safe, understood and supported which are the cornerstones for our mental health.".
