Leeds man talked down from bridge on New Year’s Day attends Andy’s Man Club with the hero ‘who saved his life’

Alex Haywood, 26, reached out on social media to find the stranger who pulled over and talked him down from a bridge in Bramley.

Following hundreds of suggestions to attend Andy’s Man Club, Alex went along to a group session on the first Monday in January - alongside the stranger who he found through the help of Facebook.

Now, Alex said his life had changed dramatically in just one month, thanks to the help of the group.

Alex said: “"At New Years, I was talked down from a bridge in Leeds.

"When I put out a post on a local forum about it, I was told repeatedly to go to Andy's Man Club, so I went along the following monday.

"It has made such a dramatic change to my life.

"There is absolutely no judgement.

"You can talk as little or as much as you want.

"It has honestly been amazing, I am going to go every week from now on.”

Alex’s story comes as the YEP is also campaigning to break down the stigma surrounding mental health issues, as part of our #SpeakYourMind campaign.

First launched in 2016, our campaign has received high-profile backing from the likes of Prime Minister Theresa May and Kensington Palace.

Alex was speaking at an event at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds to celebrate the second anniversary of the original meeting of Andy’s Man Club.

He told your Yorkshire Evening Post how the group had impacted his life so quickly.

Alex added: “The man who talked me down from the bridge even comes along to the meetings with me as my support.

"I still have my ups and downs but there is always someone to talk to.

"There is even a WhatsApp group where someone will reply 24/7.

"I have someone on the other end of the phone at any time, it is so reassuring.

"I would highly recommend it to anyone thinking of attending.

"It is the best thing I ever did, it has changed my life already.

"I can't thank them enough, I want to tell everyone to join."

Andy Wilson, 31, was the founder of the Leeds group.

He said Alex’s story was one of the most remarkable he had ever heard - although said it was typical of the men who visit the group.

Andy said: “Alex’s story is amazing, I couldn’t believe it when I first heard it.

“I want to encourage anyone to come along and see what we are all about.

“Alex has only been attending the group for a few weeks but the difference is amazing.

“You don’t need a diagnosis, you could just be having a bad week, our door is always open.

“It was brilliant that so many people recommended Andy’s Man Club to Alex when he put up his message to find the stranger on social media.”

Andy said many men had brought friends or family to the group in the past as support.

He added: “I attend the group with my own dad myself.

“It is great when you see new people come who are relatives or friends of our other members.”

Alex vowed to continue attending the group every week as he looked to ‘turn his life around’.

The group meets at 7pm every Monday apart from Bank Holidays at Leeds College of Building.

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