A mental health support service that is soon to celebrate its third anniversary says it has supported over 2,000 people in Bedford Borough since its launch.
Band of Brothers Men Heal is a campaign created by community activist Anita Powell and run by the team at the charity, Samsons Academy.
Anita recognised the urgent need for mental health support for men aged 17 to 59 – the demographic most susceptible to suicide in the UK.
The project aimed to target male-dominated spaces and began training many of Bedford’s barbers to recognise the signs of suicide and to take a training course called ‘Let’s Talk About Suicide”.
Since its launch, Band of Brothers Men Heal has supported 1,800 men and 517 women in Bedford through its online training programme, which focuses on tackling suicide and improving mental health outcomes across the Borough.
With mental health services across Bedford at capacity, many individuals continue to face long waits to access specialist or any support, which can lead to devastating consequences.
Grajcan, who completed the training and accessed the talking therapy provided by Samsons Academy, said: “Without these sessions and the easy access to a counsellor, I don’t know what would have happened to me or many facing the same hurdles.
“When you are in a totally dark place mentally, sometimes suicide feels like the easiest option and way out.
“Being able to be around other men who were going through the same life challenges, facing issues such as unemployment, housing issues or money concerns and just being able to talk without feeling judged gave me a safe space.”
Funding for the campaign came from Bedford, Luton, and Milton Keynes CCG, as well as additional support from sponsors Belron (trading as Autoglass) in the Bedford area.
“Nick Cleary from Belron has been our most ardent advocate and supporter, ensuring that this essential work continues,” explained Samson’s Academy COO, Dorian Alexis.
“With the funding provided by Belron and the National Lottery Reaching Communities fund, we were able to provide additional therapy to over 150 men across the Borough.”
This funding also enabled the delivery of a series of male-focused mixed martial arts (MMA) and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) classes with a male therapist on hand, ensuring immediate access to support and bypassing the usual barriers associated with mental health services.
Max Sutherland, who runs MMAX MMA and BJJ at the Academy and serves as the project lead for Band of Brothers Men Heal, has witnessed first-hand the impact these sessions have had.
“These sessions provide a lifeline for men across the town, offering tangible support and a sense of community for like-minded men and young people,” he said.
“We are committed to running these sessions again once additional funding is secured. For many men, navigating mental health services can be a daunting experience — they are essential for improving mental health outcomes and reducing suicide rates.”
Guy Moliterno, whose family featured in BBC1’s We Are England series and who is one of Samson Academy’s Trustees, lost his son Fabio to suicide.
“We remain committed to expanding the Band of Brothers Men Heal campaign, ensuring that men in Bedfordshire have access to the mental health support they need when they need it most,” he said.
For more information on how to access these free classes for men contact Max at Samsons Academy on info@samsons-academy.org or see their website for more details
