TWO best friends from Orford have teamed up to launch a free mental health group for men in Warrington.

Sam Driscoll and Terence Evans created Man Talk Warrington to help men across the town to talk about their mental health struggles and to meet other experiencing something similar.

Having both experienced the mental health system, the friends felt the need to establish a more informal and regular event for men to attend where they could just listen and speak to others.

Sam, aged 30 said: "We have both been through the mental health system.

"Terence lost his brother just a few weeks ago and has been thinking of a way he could speak about it.

"I was lucky that I could afford private mental health treatment as the waiting list on the NHS is so long.

"We are just normal guys who want to speak about these things."

The self-funded group is for men of all ages and is not exclusively for those experiencing mental health issues.

Terence, aged 32 said: "We want to grow organically and eventually bring in public speakers to share their experiences of mental health.

"It is a good way for men to make friends - some men who came were just lonely and they felt comfortable enough to come along.

"Mental health meetings can often be too formal and overwhelming to attend so we are making sure Man Talk is just a relaxed chat more than anything."

They plan on launching a podcast too so men can sit at home and listen.

Currently taking place on Sundays at 2pm, Sam and Terence are working to set up a midweek meeting for those who cannot make weekends.

Dad-of-two Sam said: "It is a safe space for men to open up and a network that brings people together.

"We are seeing that suicide is affecting more and more men and men do struggle to speak out."

In a little more than a week the group has 400 members on their Facebook group.

At the minute they are operating out of The Lounge on Springfield Street but are making sure they have a setting without a bar as some members may have struggled with addiction.

If you are interested in joining Man Talk Warrington you can access their Facebook page here or email Sam and Terence on Mantalk-warrington@outlook.com.