Men, who had come to the charity for help when they most needed it, who now give their time to help people in the same position they once were.
Fraser Devine is the man who, together with three others, started the group.
(Image: Colin Mearns)
Six years later, he finds himself head of operations of a support network and a team of dedicated volunteers that has reached and helped thousands of men.
A survivor of suicide himself, and after a battle with addiction, he took steps to change his life.
Ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on Wednesday, the Glasgow Times is highlighting organisations that people can contact for help.
Suicide rates in Scotland are 3.2 times higher among men than women.
Latest figures from 2023 show there was an increase in probable suicide deaths from 762 to 792.
Among men, it increased by 34 to 590 and for women a slight drop of four to 202.
Probable suicides are also 2.5 times higher in the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived.
Men Matter’s aim is to “support positive mental, physical and emotional health and wellbeing for men”.
Fraser said: “If you want help, we’re here for you.”
The charity focuses on peer-to-peer work where men can be assured that those giving the support know what they are feeling.
Fraser said: “The men understand each other.
“Understanding that people have the same issues, mental health, loneliness, addiction, and relationships. There’s a whole range.”
Anyone can ask Men Matter for support and they will be welcomed.
(Image: Colin Mearns)
Fraser added: “People can just come and ring the bell and get help.
“We also get referrals from GP’s, the mental health unit and Police Scotland.
“As men, we can think we’re the problem and want to die. But really, we want the pain to die.”
Fraser said the night before, someone came in and said they wanted to take their own life.
They were taken in and offered support right away, no appointments needed, no waiting time, no waiting list to join.
The charity also has two teams that are out in the community offering help when people are in crisis.
A street team goes out at weekends, actively looking for people who might need immediate help.
They also have a search team who are called out if someone is reported missing.
They know where to look and have e-bikes to help get to locations that vehicles can’t reach easily.
There have been occasions where they have reached the person just in time.
The day-to-day services are where the work is done, where people get the help and support to allow them to turn their lives around.
Fraser said: “I got help from AA. Now, helping people helps me.”
The numbers coming through show the scale of the issue.
They had 50 new men in April, 39 in May, and another 39 in June and 587 people attended classes in one month alone.
Many men who get in touch are having suicidal thoughts.
Fraser produced the stats. There were 39 in April, 32 in May, 37 in June and 60 in July.
He said they don’t yet know why there was such an increase in July.
The charity is geared up to help the growing number of men who find themselves feeling alone and thinking they have nowhere to turn.
It now has eight staff and dozens of volunteers.
One of the volunteers, Malcolm Briggs, showed the Glasgow Times around the premises and explained the range of services and facilities.
Malcolm said he came in suicidal and depressed, needing help two years ago and is now a volunteer.
Malcolm explained the principles of Men Matter: “Empathy, confidentiality, respect and open-mindedness”.
He now leads sessions on “mindfulness, meditations and positive thinking”, and has completed courses on Suicide First Aid, peer to peer, mental health first aid and awareness of mental health training.
The centre has counselling rooms for confidential one-to-one chats, which is where most people would be taken first.
There is also a music room, a small gym, and a social area, which is busy with a few men chatting. There is a pool table, which is not being used when we visited but Malcolm said it is popular.
The charity has evolved in the six years to offer professional, structured programmes of support.
People come from all over the country to Men Matter and Fraser wants to open hubs in other places.
A range of services is available seven days a week at Men Matter from 10.30am to 8pm, with activity days at weekends.
Outside of those hours, the team is available to support someone in crisis at any time.
During the day, there are talking workshops that cover issues such as trauma, incorporating Cognitive Behavioural Therapy sessions and mindset and breathwork sessions.
Sessions on addiction and violence are also offered.
Men Matter can be contacted at the hub at 20 Drumchapel Rd, Glasgow G15 6QE
Or on 0141 944 7900
contact@menmatterscotland.org
www.menmatterscotland.org