East Midlands Railway (EMR) has teamed up with the men’s suicide prevention charity ANDYSMANCLUB to raise awareness about men’s mental health.

Next Sunday, 19 November, is International Men’s Day, and to show its support for the initiative, East Midlands Railway will be displaying posters throughout its network that are designed to spread the message of ANDYSMANCLUB. There is often a stigma surrounding men’s mental health, and to help break this misconception ANDYSMANCLUB provides men with a sense of community and offers them a platform where they can start conversations. They achieve this by providing men with a safe space where they are able to share their experiences and support each other.

The posters will be displayed prominently in East Midlands Railway stations, and the company hopes that they will contribute to the destigmatisation of men’s mental health issues and promote the importance of open conversations.

Through ANDYSMANCLUB, men who have faced similar situations are brought together and encouraged to share their experiences and how they coped with various challenges. As the focus is on supporting each other, no problem is considered as being too big or too small. Weekly sessions are held focussing on five key questions that aim to promote dialogue, highlight positive aspects, and develop strategies for personal growth.

In another initiative to support International Men’s Day, Transpennine Express has wrapped one of its trains in a vinyl that displays the ANDYSMANCLUB message.

Lucy Gallacher, Emergency Planning Manager at East Midlands Railway, said: “We are proud to stand alongside ANDYSMANCLUB in raising awareness for men’s mental health on International Men’s Day.

“The charity is easy to access and provides a supportive space for men to connect and share their experiences.

“We are committed to helping our customers, communities, and colleagues deal with mental health issues and hope that this poster campaign enables someone to reach out and get the support they need.”