Mental health has always been a mystery to me. I knew people who struggled with it, but I never truly understood—until one night, I couldn’t sleep. That one night turned into weeks of lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. I went to the doctor. They gave me tablets. When those didn’t work, they gave me different tablets. Then different doses. Still, nothing helped. It wasn’t until I stepped outside the traditional health system that I began to heal. Attending Andy’s Man Club set me on a path of self-healing and wellbeing.
When I signed up for the wellbeing retreat, I didn’t know what to expect. I knew I’d be sleeping in a tent and that there would be other people there. But when I arrived, I was welcomed by Yaz and her family like I was one of their own. It was beautiful. Within minutes, a group of strangers felt like family. I found myself doing things I’d never tried before. I had time for myself. I met new people. I ate three meals a day—which, for me, was an achievement. As someone who rarely puts their own wellbeing first, I left that weekend with a whole new perspective on life. I even shared my story of surviving suicide. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but I felt safe—at home. Getting that weight off my shoulders gave me the drive and motivation to be myself again. And through the conversations that followed, I know I made a difference to others too. I stopped overthinking the week, the month, the year—and started focusing on today. Because tomorrow is tomorrow.
I’m a better person now—for my partner and my daughter. But I can’t help but ask: why isn’t this available more locally? I had to drive over three hours to find Yaz, and that journey was nothing compared to what I gained from that weekend. This kind of retreat should exist all over the UK. It would save lives—and I say that from experience.
Cammy