MENtell – The Walk To Help Men Talk

2 Aug 2018

Back in January, I Love Bramhall brought you the news of a newly founded local group called MENtell, whose members provide free support for men struggling to cope with mental health. The group, currently running out of Hazel Grove High School, have helped over 50 local men since their formation and are now looking to set up their second group.

What started as a small project has now gathered momentum and is becoming a movement. Men are coming to the meetings, and men are telling their stories. Men are finally having conversations about their mental health.

MENtell-Bramhall

Suicide is the UK’s single biggest cause of death in men under 45. Statistics like this appear shocking to us – but often they remain just that – a statistic.

And so seven months on from their founding, on we bring you the story of the MENtell movement’s second group, and one determined sister’s effort to turn the tragic loss of her younger brother into a message of hope for all men who currently experience or have experienced depression or anxiety.

Aged 26, Vittorio Petruzzelli, brother of Danielle Petruzzelli, lost his battle with mental health in April 2017. He took his own life, leaving close family and friends devastated.

Vittorio Petruzzelli

It took one Facebook post from Danielle’s personal account in April of the next year (the anniversary of her brothers passing) that brought awareness back to her brother’s plight and his story. Through the power of social media, that post made its way via a network of shares to the members of MENtell here in Bramhall.

They got in touch, and now Danielle’s aim is to expand The MENtell Movement into Vittorio’s hometown of Hyde to honour her brother and to continue the wonderful work being carried out by the men in Bramhall; to expand the conversation so that increasingly, men tell.

MENtell-Bramhall

Thus, activities and fundraisers to support the movement and raise further awareness have been organised. On August 19th Danielle, friends and family of Vittorio will join group members from Bramhall’s MENtell at Snowden for their last leg of the 3 peak challenge to raise money for the movement.

MENtell - Bramhall

We kindly ask our amazing community to donate and sponsor ‘The Walk To Help Men Talk’ so the MENtell movement can continue the great work in our area, and establish a longstanding free men’s group in Hyde and further communities.

Please go to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/thementellmovment – 100% of all funds go directly to the cause.

If you need help, or even just someone to talk to and more information on MENtell