Wigan’s first women’s only mental health support group has been set up, with the founder hoping it will spread way beyond the borough’s boundaries.
Jess Jarratt from Ashton-in-Makerfield, after facing her own struggles, decided to take action after looking at Andy’s Man Club, the men’s mental health charity, and realising there was nothing like that for women.
So, ‘The Girls Club’ was born, and in less than a week, it has already garnered more than 300 members, clearly demonstrating there is a need for it.
We caught up with Jess just two days after she launched The Girl’s Club, to find out more, and it’s fair to say she was overwhelmed with the response.
“The Girls Club is a community, predominantly for mental health, however, with the response, I think it’s for anything to do with women.
“We’ve got women who just need a chat, they want some friends, they’re a bit lonely, anything that they need support with or want help with, we’re here for it.”
Jess, 30, also told us within two days of establishing a WhatsApp support group, there were almost 200 members, and at the time of writing this, that number is almost 350.
“It’s supportive girl chat, we have some women messaging saying they’re struggling with various things, and the rest of the girls just jump in, asking what help and support they need.”
Jess was also was keen to stress she is not a qualified mental health professional, but is ‘qualified to chat’, and said there are already offers from many organisations to help with various support sessions.
Along with the WhatsApp group chat, there will also be weekly official meetings for The Girls Club, with the first one scheduled to take place on Tuesday 29 July in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan.
Ahead of that some of the women arranged an impromptu meeting, along with a walk and talk, both hosted by Jess, who told us she has struggled with her own mental health in the past, which is part of why she is so passionate about helping other women.
“If you look at my Instagram sometimes I look like I’m the happiest person in the world, but away from all that I could be crying in my bed. I thought if I feel like that, there must be so many other women who feel like that too.”
“Andy’s Man Club is a big inspiration for me, they set up with one small session nine years ago and now have more than 300 branches all over the country, why can’t we have that for women?”
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