Morson & ANDYSMANCLUB team up with suicide prevention playing cards

Morson Group and men’s suicide prevention charity ANDYSMANCLUB have partnered together as part of their #ItsOKToTalk campaign to help break the stigma surrounding men’s mental health with the launch of our custom playing cards.

The custom playing card decks were developed in partnership with the charity to encourage open and honest conversations and as the centrepiece of the first official ANDYSMANCLUB #ItsOkToTalk week.

Suicide is the biggest cause of death in men under the age of 45. The charity offers free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the UK and online, aiming to end the stigma and help men through the power of conversation. They have reached over 100 million people including Hollywood stars, professional sports people and more.

Morson x ANDYSMANCLUB: ItsOKToTalk playing cards

Driven by a genuine concern for the well-being of our contractors, we recognised the urgent need to break the silence surrounding mental health in this predominantly male workforce. In partnership with ANDYSMANCLUB, we conceived a unique concept: a deck of cards, each bearing a thought-provoking question related to mental health, with the aim of fostering open and honest conversations amongst men. The unique circumstances of the rail contractor population demanded a solution that would resonate with their specific challenges, such as long and irregular working hours, isolation, and the stigma surrounding mental health.

Over 350 decks have been distributed to businesses across the UK who are supporting the campaign, with 300 decks given to our contractor community, creating a gateway to an open conversation. 

The concept behind the ground-breaking collaboration between Morson Group and ANDYSMANCLUB stems from a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by a significant portion of our workforce. Within Morson’s blue-collar rail contractor population, 92% are male. These dedicated individuals often endure long, unsociable hours and are particularly vulnerable when it comes to mental health issues and suicide.

By focusing on a playable deck of cards, Morson Group and ANDYSMANCLUB embraced a format that is engaging, accessible, and non-threatening. The cards serve as catalysts for conversations, gently nudging men to reflect on their mental well-being and openly discuss the issues they face. By providing a tangible and relatable tool, the concept creates an inclusive space for dialogue, fostering connections and breaking down the barriers that hinder men from seeking help.

This innovative concept aligns with the unique circumstances and needs of Morson’s blue-collar rail contractor population, acknowledging their vulnerability to mental health challenges and the importance of tailored interventions. By addressing these specific factors head-on, the partnership between Morson Group and ANDYSMANCLUB demonstrates a profound commitment to improving the mental well-being of our workforce and creating lasting change in a traditionally underrepresented group in the wellbeing space.

Moreover, the concept embodies a deep understanding of the power of conversation in destigmatising mental health. By strategically crafting questions that resonate with the experiences of these men, the deck of cards serves as a bridge, bringing together individuals who may otherwise suffer in silence. This transformative approach aims to empower men to break free from the shackles of societal expectations, embrace vulnerability, and seek the support they deserve.

Through the concept of the mental health card deck, alongside ANDYSMANCLUB we have introduced what we believe is a game-changing tactic that not only addresses the specific needs of our workforce but also has the potential to inspire similar initiatives in industries worldwide. By championing open conversation and challenging the stigma surrounding mental health, this concept paves the way for a more inclusive and compassionate future, where every man feels empowered to seek help and no longer suffers in silence.

How a family tragedy inspired a mental health movement

As part of our PathFinders series, we spoke to ANDYSMANCLUB founder Luke about the family tragedy that spurred him into action to setting up the charity. From an idea borne out of grief, the club now has over 120 free support groups across the country, serving almost 3,000 men a week through 900+ volunteers.

Watch the full interview here: 

“On 5th April 2016, my brother-in-law, my partner’s little brother, died by suicide and it came completely out of the blue. Just to give you a backstory, we were out on the Sunday laughing and joking, talking about buying a house. He’d just got promoted at work or they were looking at a promotion at work, everything was going well in his life from what he’d had in the past, he’d completely changed his life around.

On the Sunday morning, he gets up to play football and then he goes to the Palladium with my wife, his daughter and the kids.

And then that night I meet him as I usually would, all of us around my mother in laws for Sunday dinner and then next morning he gets up, goes to work and then doesn’t come home that night. Next morning my mother-in-law gets a knock on the door by a policeman, to say that they’d found her son dead. I’m about to go to a rugby camp with my little boy Alfie, who was so tight with his uncle Andy.

My phone rang, it was my mother-in-law. I said hello and she just said, our Andrew’s dead. And I said, I’m on my way. I dropped Alfie off and shot up to the house. And I remember like it was yesterday, the atmosphere you could have cut with a knife.

Later I had to tell Alfie that his uncle Andy had gone up to heaven, and to hear the scream let out by a six-year-old boy will live with me forever. It absolutely crippled me and was the catalyst for this movement. No family should have to go through what this family’s going through.”

ANDYSMANCLUB has over 120 free support groups nationwide, running every Monday from 7pm except bank holidays. In these groups, men can open up about the storms affecting their lives in a safe, judgement-free and non-clinical environment. Their clubs are designed to be free of pressure, there is no obligation for men to speak, they can simply listen if they wish. Click here to learn more.

Visit our PathFinders hub for more inspirational stories.