A new walking group aimed to support men's mental health has been launched in Warwick.

Jason McCrae led the first Men Walking and Talking Group around the town on Monday 2 December, having seen first hand how the community initiative has helped him turn his mental health and life around.

The group is the latest in a nationwide network of MWAT pods and meets at 7pm on Mondays at Warwick Racecourse for a walk around the town.

Aimed at breaking down the stigma of mental health, the walk is an opportunity to meet new people, provide support and create a safe space to talk about difficult topics.

Having turned to the established walk in nearby Kenilworth after being made redundant twice in three months, Jason was inspired to launch the new group in Warwick.

The group meets at Warwick Racecourse on a Monday evening (image supplied)

"It absolutely battered me, I could not get out of bed, didn't want to wake up and felt I was a let down to everyone around me," he said. 

"The thoughts I was having about not being here anymore just made it worse. 

"I don't have the strength to carry on, my thoughts turned to how I was going to end it all. 

"I spoke with my wife about how I felt and she was basically on 24 hour watch checking in on me throughout the day whilst I was at home, hiding all medications/tablets – anything that I could harm myself with.

"I eventually got another job which is my current job but I struggled to engage and be enthusiastic about it and anything else."

Jason's wife then suggested he join the Kenilworth MWAT group, and after some early reluctance he decided to give it a go and met group leader Mark Taylor.

Mark Taylor (left) helped turn Jason's life around with the Kenilworth group (image supplied)

"That's where my life changed," Jason said.

"I have to say we spoke about completely random stuff as we walked around and I felt loads better. 

"Mark and the group made me feel normal again. 

"I have been attending the Kenilworth group for nearly a year and it has saved my life.

"I had some very difficult things to deal with but the whole MWAT community has helped me through it. 

"I have recently completed the Mental Health First Aid course and am actively helping others, I now feel ready to give back.

"I could have just given up and not been here anymore but MWAT was there."

The local Men Walking and Talking Group in Kenilworth was launched in 2022 (image supplied)

Having decided to expand the network into Warwick, the first group met on the first Monday in December with 26 men coming along.

"I had little or no self belief before now but this just proves that what we do around the country works, we meet up, we go for a walk have some great laughs and chat, even some dad jokes thrown in," Jason said after the first meeting. 

"Twenty-six knights of Warwick turned up, walked, talked and we get to do it all again next Monday, see you all again.

"We provide a safe space for men to talk and walk together as men don't talk. 

"Taking the first step is massive for most who attend, it takes courage to get out and join us which is massive and they have already done something massive by turning up as it's so much easier not too. 

"No pressure to talk at all, just walk if you want."

To find out more, head to the website here.