Around six weeks ago on a Thursday, a Mernda resident formed a walk and talk group focusing on men’s mental health, which will soon be supported under the Mernda Community House.
Mernda Menergise Walk and Talk Group meets at Waterview Recreational Reserve every Thursday at 7pm, where men, including sons, older men and ages in between take the time to talk and walk through Mernda’s scenery.
Facilitator and founder Anthony Brancatisano put the word out online around two months ago, wanting to connect with others who felt there was a need to discuss life and interests, all while focusing on physical and mental health.
The idea to start a local walking group drew from his own involvement in men’s groups, including Menergy and Island of Men, where Mr Brancatisano had seen others reducing the stigma of men’s mental health, but it was not known among the wider community.
Mr Brancatisano moved to Mernda three and a half years ago, always travelling due to work but once he settled into more of a normal life when swapping jobs, Mr Brancatisano realised he had no connection to his community.
Mr Brancatisano said he still pinched himself from the community response.
“The six weeks I’ve been running now, some of the stories from the men and even the thank you’s … I’m the facilitator, I have a trauma informed certificate, but I’m not there to help anyone, we’re there to give direction,” he said.
“It’s just a space to express with other men and encourage men to get out in the community and seek help.”
Starting from April, the walk and talk group will be a program under the Mernda Community which has embraced the project among their other community initiatives.
Mr Brancatisano said the program would remain the same, but the support of the community house would make a difference for when the group wanted to meet more during the winter and to have a secure place.
“It’s the same thing, and if the weather’s not favourable, they provided a space for us that we can sit down … so we now have somewhere for shelter, we can sit down and we could chat for an hour,” he said.
“It’s just a space to express with other men and encourage men to get out in the community and seek help.”
Anthony Brancatisano
Through the support of key community members and the Mernda Community House, Mr Brancatisano said he had goals to expand the group, with plans to include a family walk once a month and get involved in more community projects.
Mr Brancatisano said it was all about community connection.
“I don’t just want to be the strictly men’s club, I want to expand into the good work that we’re doing,” he said.
“Then hope to get involved in more community projects as well because a lot of lonely older men out there that just don’t have some outlets.”
The group meets at Waterview Recreational Reserve every Thursday at 7pm.
For more information, there is a Facebook group to join at Mernda Menergise Walk and Talk Group.