Couple creates Men That Matter and Women That Matter support groups

A couple driven by personal experiences and a desire to offer more support to the community has started two mental health support groups.

John and Denise Martin created the Men That Matter group 18 months ago and due to its success, a Women That Matter group was born and its first session was on Thursday (February 27).

The men’s group was born out of John’s own struggles with PTSD, depression, and anxiety, and has since gained new members, providing a much-needed safe space for men to openly discuss their emotions and experiences.

John admitted that one day when he was watching Andy’s Man Club on Emmerdale, he started looking if there were any similar groups in the area. When he couldn’t find one, he decided to create one himself.

“It’s been beneficial for me because I’ve helped other people, which in turn has helped me,” John said.

He added: “It gives people a space to talk about how they feel without judgment.”

As the men’s group grew wings, the couple started receiving messages from women expressing the need for a similar space. It led to the creation of Women That Matters, which held its first session at The White Post pub in Farnsfield.

Just like her husband, Denise’s reasons to create the group and be part of it came from personal experience.

She said: “I've been through several things throughout my life, some that could have been avoided and some that couldn't.

“I'm 48 years old now, so to go 20 years without my dad who was my support system and my guidance and my everything… I've gone through a lot in life and not had somewhere to turn to or somebody to turn to and support me.

“To have these support systems out there, they're priceless.”

The couple said that unlike NHS mental health programmes which often only run for six weeks, their support groups have no time restrictions.

Apart from the gender-focused groups where people can openly talk about their emotions and experiences, they have also introduced a popular walk-and-talk session, which is open to anyone, regardless of gender.

John added: “Being out in nature has been proven to be good for mental health.

“People feel more at ease, less confined, and more open to talking.

“People have reached out through Facebook Messenger, telling us how much our posts resonate with them.

“Even if they haven’t attended a session yet, they feel less alone just knowing these groups exist.”

The next meeting of Men That Matter will be held on March 6, upstairs in Rainworth Village Hall from 6pm until 7.30pm.

The peer support group is held every fortnight.

The next walk and talk will take place on Sunday (March 9) at 11am at Vicars Water Country Park.

The Women That Matter group's next session is yet to be confirmed as well as the location.

For those hesitant about joining, John said: “You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to. Just being there, listening, and knowing you’re not alone can make all the difference.”