MEN in Swindon are being encouraged to talk about their feelings as part of an international campaign.

Men’s Health Week aims to improve mental fitness through a programme called The Five Ways to Wellbeing.

Throughout this week, Men’s Mental Health Swindon will be sharing tips and personal stories from local men on social media.

And to kick off the week, the group encouraged men in Swindon to connect with others.

Marcus Kittridge, of Baristocats Coffee Lounge in Commercial Road, is backing the idea.

He said: “Our customer base is very varied and the interactions we experience each day contributes to our wellbeing and positive mental health.”

Marcus and his wife Tracey opened their business three years ago after they both wanted a change in career.

“My wife and I had bad experiences with former employers. We have decided to leave very toxic environments and do something different.

“We are now more in control of our own destinies and we own our own mistakes. We wanted to give people a safe space to de-stress, meet others or just feel less isolated.”

Alex Pollock, who led the first Swindon men’s mental health campaign last month said: "We’re hopeful that by showcasing some real-life examples from the Swindon community of what residents do, we can provide some value to local men looking to improve their mental fitness.

"There’s plenty of evidence out there to suggest that small alterations and improvements to your wellbeing can help decrease mental health problems and also make day-to-day lives better for people.

“Above all else, MHW gives us an opportunity to encourage men and boys to take better care of their health and wellbeing. “

Co-founder of Men’s Mental Health Charlie Paradise wants to encourage men to talk about their feelings and emotions.

She said: “It reminds them that it’s actually acceptable to talk about their problems. We live in a society where the biggest barrier for men is masculinity and we want to help them open up.

“They often find it difficult to find the right language to talk and we are here to help them. It’s important to normalise it and we will carry on even after this week.”

But for Charlie this campaign is not for people struggling with severe health issues.

Yesterday the group invited men to be active and do something either special or basic. Today is about giving to others. “Helping others does make you feel better,” said Charlie.

She added: “Tomorrow, we’re talking about paying attention of what surrounds us. And the last one is about keeping learning. It’s important to always learn new facts every day.”