THE Northern Care Alliance (NCA), which runs The Royal Oldham Hospital, Salford Royal, Fairfield General Hospital and the Rochdale Infirmary, is promoting its Mental Health Champions across social media for Men’s Health Week.

Mental Health Champions at the NCA aim to raise awareness around mental health, reduce any stigma and discrimination attached to mental health within the workplace and enable great conversations around mental health so that the right support is sought at the right time.

Nathan Brookes, a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist based at Salford Royal, is one of the Mental Health Champions whose photo and message has been shared across the NCA’s social media pages for Men’s Health Week (June 14-20).

Nathan said: “Opening up and talking is a sign of strength, not weakness. It may be a conversation that really changes your life. There is support out there, it’s up to you to take hold of it.

“There are lots of online resources such as the charity Mind who offer information, advice and a number of classes such as mindfulness. There are also over 70 Andy’s Man Club groups nationally (including in Oldham) which encourage men to talk in a non-judgemental, friendly and open way.”

NCA chief of people, Nicky Clarke, said: “Ensuring our people feel able to talk about their mental health and equipping our colleagues with the skills and tools to have those conversations is really important.”