Time Space Compassion - supporting people experiencing suicidal crisis: stories in practice - volume 1

5. The Changing Room (SAMH)

Creating crisis informed space for peer support by being accessible, being alongside and supporting safety

The Changing Room is a twelve week programme for men, based in football stadium spaces. The programme focuses on wellbeing, recognising that for some this includes navigating and making sense of crisis.

"Not only are participants supported by trained Changing Room coaches, they are supported by their peers ... Learning from and supporting others are key components of what makes The Changing Room successful."

5.1 Our challenge

In Scotland, men are nearly three times more likely to die by suicide, with the biggest risk during their middle years. Men often aren't great at sharing how they feel or seeking help around their mental wellbeing, and yet we know that talking is one of the first steps to better mental health. We are not a crisis service, but we need to be able to respond well and support men who want to make sense of their experiences of crisis, as part of their wellbeing planning. It was also important to be ready to support someone to stay safe and connect to crisis support, if needed.

5.2 Our response

That's why SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) created The Changing Room, thanks to funding from Movember and support from the SPFL Trust. The 12-week programme uses football to bring men together – not just for a blether about the football, but also for the chance to get the stuff that's bothering them off their chests too. The Changing Room encourages men to open up in environments where they feel comfortable, using a tested and co-produced model. Our aim is to ensure men are supported to live happier, healthier lives. The team of coaches are all trained in course delivery and how to have a mental health conversation. External evaluation of The Changing Room found that men strengthened social connections and supported one another through their participation in the programme. Learning from the evaluation also informed our three core values - sharing experiences, learning from others, supporting others.

5.3 Learning from practice

Being accessible – meeting in football stadiums, our sessions are designed to be informal, comfortable and encouraging. Focusing on their wellbeing, rather than their problems, can be freeing and help men share their past experiences in the context of their hopes for the future. Being alongside - trained Changing Room coaches at clubs across Scotland are equipped with the skills to come alongside participants, support them on their mental health journey and create space for peer support. Supporting safety - the structure of the course builds toward the participants developing their own 'wellbeing team', designed to aid them in managing their mental health going forward, including supporting men to strengthen social networks and connect to services that may prove beneficial in their ongoing mental health journey.

5.4 Impact

External evaluation of our project found significant increases in mental wellbeing, life satisfaction and social support for men who participated in the programme. Further, many men who have participated have reported improvements in their relationships, career and social lives as a result of participating. It has been a source of increased self-confidence for many, enabling men to tackle some of the challenges they face head-on.

Find out more and contact The Changing Room Team through their website