WHEN Prince William recently spoke about mental health, he shone a light on something greatly in need of attention.

In an article for the Heads Together campaign - which he launched earlier this year, along with the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry - William reflected on what he had learned about fatherhood and his "responsibility to look after not just the physical health of my two children, but to treat their mental needs as a priority too".

He added: "It is often said that fathers can find it hard to talk about their own feelings, so it's no wonder they struggle to speak to their son or daughter about the topic. But we don't really have a choice. I believe that a child's mental health is just as important as his or her physical health."

His comments came at the end of Men's Health Week, which this year ran with the theme 'How do you beat stress?', encouraging men to take a more proactive approach to managing their mental wellbeing.

Factors which can lead to mental health problems in men include debt, bereavement, family stresses and retirement.

As men grow older they often go through life-changing experiences, including the loss of a spouse or partner, and that can leave them feeling vulnerable, isolated and sometimes unable to cope with domestic tasks.

Four years ago, following consultation with agencies such as MIND, Age Uk and Bradford District NHS project Health on the Street, a group was established at Eccleshill Mechanics Institute to meet a gap in provision of support services for men. The group, called Men @EccyMeccy, was aimed at helping men address issues they struggled with, through a supportive, social environment, and equip them with skills and confidence to help themselves.

"The group meets weekly in a supportive environment; it's an area where men can chat about things they may be concerned about or just put the world to rights over a cuppa," says group co-ordinator Chris Watson. "There are many men within the group with similar life experiences which helps to break down barriers and create an open space in which to talk.

"Men tend not to talk about things that are bothering them, they bottle things up which doesn't help in the long run. Older men in particular are of a generation that wasn't encouraged to talk about their feelings; there's that stiff upper lip attitude, keeping going regardless.

"My background involved working with young people and as a rule they're much more willing to talk.

"One factor which can really affect older men is retirement. Often they miss the structure of going to work five days a week and struggle to adjust. Some feel a bit useless once their working life has ended.

"Mid-life crisis can also be an issue. Some men have a tendency to drink a bit more to try and deal with issues."

Men@EccyMeccy offers a chance for men to meet informally at regular sessions. As well as providing support and a chance to socialise, the project helps men deal with skills such as cooking and using domestic appliances, and builds up confidence and self-esteem. Men can refer themselves, or be referred by agencies following experiences such as bereavement.

The group, comprised of about 25 men, meets weekly and also organises social trips twice a month. "We went to the Yorkshire Air Museum recently and I'm planning to organise some walks. I'm a big fan or walking and find that getting into the fresh air really helps people," says Chris. "The social aspect helps men to open up; they share experiences and talk about how they deal with issues. Conversation often flows over a game of pool.

"We help with things like cooking, working with organisations such as the Ministry of Food in Bradford. We offer a drop-in support service too, and refer to other agencies. We also do some befriending - some men can't come along to the centre so we have men who visit them in their community."

Volunteering is a significant stage in the process, allowing men to become actively involved in their community, and making the most of their skills and knowledge.

The group was initially supported by lottery funding, and is currently funded by Henry Smith until September, 2017. Chris is in the process of trying to secure funding for it to continue beyond that.

* For more information about Men@EccyMeccy call (01274) 636228 or 07531 879470 or email men@eccymeccy.org