It’s now common knowledge that men are three times more likely to take their lives and our society is suffering physically and mentally. Paul Regan, a mental health professional and Charles Needham, a weightlifting coach, both from Wales have designed the Stand Tall programme to address this urgent need.
As a Mental Health Nurse, Paul had witnessed a gap in traditional mental health care, realising that men are less likely to access mental health services, are at a higher risk of suicide, and more likely to fall into substance abuse.
Their free 8-week Strength and Wellbeing Course blends skills based physical sessions (using a barbell) with mental health workshops consisting of three pillars.
The initial part – the ‘Body’ pillar – focuses on physical health, promoting fitness and companionship through gym sessions.
This transitions into the ‘Head’ pillar, a mental health workshop, designed to tackle issues like stress, anxiety, depression, and ADHD, using strategies from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Behavioural Activation.
The third pillar is the essential ‘Community’ aspect, fostering a supportive environment that enables connections, mutual growth, and resilience.
Currently, Stand Tall is run by two full-time working dads, dedicated to making a difference in men’s mental health. They have achieved significant strides, but demand is now exceeding their current capacity.
A grant from the Matthew Good Foundation will enable Stand Tall to build on their offering, invest in mental health training and reach a wider audience. They will use funds raised to develop courses capable of bringing in funds, which will in turn enable them to offer more courses for free to others who need it most in their community.
“We are buzzing with excitement to be shortlisted by the Matthew Good Foundation! Such recognition has fired up our motivation to work even harder for the cause we’re passionate about.
As two local dads deeply rooted in our beloved community of Barrybados, South Wales, it’s incredibly meaningful to us to give back to the people and the place we hold dear.
Your endorsement will contribute to strengthening the mental health of our community, and we can’t wait to put these funds into action and help more men regain control of their mental wellbeing.”
“When I met with Paul, his qualifications, credibility and passion in the field of men’s mental health were clear. He has seen first-hand the struggles people go through and the lack of support available, namely the speed of which support can be offered is often lengthy with waiting lists. Paul and Charles both work full time, they are both parents, and they run Stand tall in their spare time in the evenings. They have received some incredible feedback from some of their early attendees, and have a great plan for the future of their organisation.”
Latest Project Updates
December 2023
£2,500 Granted
After employees at the John Good Group voted for their favourite causes, Stand Tall Strength and Wellbeing received a grant of £2,500.
December 2023
Grants for Good Finalist
Stand Tall has become one of the top five finalists in the latest Grants for Good round, and will receive a grant between £2000 and £5000 after employees at the John Good Group have voted on their favourite causes.