\n The specialist, Asif Naliya and Zahir Teemil run the Halliwell Road based Your Care Our Support together, providing mental health services to the people of Bolton.\n<\/p>\n
\n They have now joined forces with Chorley businessman Shaz Malik, a well-known figure in the town thanks to his entrepreneurial and charity works, to launch a new mental wellbeing hub.\n<\/p>\n
\n Mr Malik said he was driven not just by professional motives, but by personal ones as well.\n<\/p>\n
\n He said: \u201cI\u2019ve battled with my mental health at several points in my life on which sometimes I\u2019ve not even known or choice to ignore it and to be honest, I\u2019ve faced just about every challenge there is if not I\u2019ve seen it helping others.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cPersonally thought I was coping. I kept pushing through, telling myself I was fine. That\u2019s what many of us do, especially as men.\n<\/p>\n
\n The partners hope to help support people’s mental health (Image: Public) \u201cWe wear this armour of strength, thinking asking for help is a weakness.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cBut the truth is, I wasn\u2019t fine. I didn\u2019t realise how much I was struggling until it nearly became too much. I wish I\u2019d spoken up earlier. I wish I\u2019d known it was okay not to be okay.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cEventually, I hit a moment of clarity. I admitted to myself that I wasn\u2019t well and that was the turning point. I sought out treatment, I caught it in the early stages, recovery came quicker than I expected.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThat experience made me realise something else,\u00a0how can I truly support the people if I\u2019m not well myself?\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cWe often try to hold everyone else up while quietly falling apart. But you can\u2019t pour from an empty cup. Taking care of your own mental health isn\u2019t selfish, it\u2019s necessary.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Mr Malik has since established a strong reputation as founder of Helping Hands Chorley CIC and chairman of the Chorley Taxi Association.\n<\/p>\n
\n The new hub will be based at the Millfields Day Care Centre (Image: Public) He says he now uses his platform to raise awareness about mental health and hopes the new hub help to create a stronger network for people facing similar challenges.\n<\/p>\n
\n Mr Malik said: \u201cLooking back, the hardest part wasn\u2019t the healing, it was the silence before it.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThat feeling of suffering in the dark, convincing yourself everything\u2019s under control when it\u2019s not.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cIf there\u2019s one thing I\u2019ve learned, it\u2019s that reaching out isn\u2019t weakness, it\u2019s the bravest step you can take.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n He will now be working<\/a> with Mr Naliya, who has more than 20 years of experience<\/a> in the health<\/a> and care sector and Mr Teemil, with more than 25 years\u2019 experience as a mental health nurse.\n<\/p>\n \n ALSO READ:\u00a0Taxi boss behind ‘Batman’ scheme says repeat Bolton criminals reflect ‘broken system’<\/strong><\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n ALSO READ:\u00a0‘Taxi watch’ hero dives in to save man from burning car<\/strong><\/a>\n<\/p>\n