TAMESIDE pubs are serving up more than pints this summer, with bars across the borough introducing special “menus” designed to help people open up about mental health.
The new ‘Are You Alright Mate?’ menu has been created by Tameside Council, the Tameside Suicide Prevention Action Group and Tameside Pubwatch, offering a fresh way to start difficult conversations in familiar surroundings.
Styled like a pub menu, the resource includes ‘Starters’ with conversation openers, ‘Mains’ covering some of the biggest pressures people may be facing, and ‘Desserts’ pointing people towards local support services. There is also a ‘Specials’ section highlighting where urgent help can be found in a crisis.
The initiative ties into Greater Manchester’s Shine a Light on Suicide campaign and aims to make mental health support less intimidating – helping people talk before problems come to a head.
With men accounting for 81 per cent of suicides in Tameside between 2022 and 2024, it’s hoped pubs can become places where people feel able to pull up a chair, rather than suffer in silence.
The idea is that a familiar setting over a drink could help break the ice and encourage people to check in with mates who may be struggling.
Tameside Council’s Director of Public Health, James Mallion, said: “You don’t have to be a mental health professional to help prevent suicide. The Are You Alright Mate? resources have been developed to start conversations, and to help people to build up confidence to talk openly about mental health.
“There are many services and voluntary organisations in Tameside that are here to help when life feels heavy. It’s not a one-size fits-all when it comes to getting support, so these menus are here to show just some of the options. Our aim is to ensure that nobody ever feels that suicide is their best or only option.”
The campaign also encourages people to take part in the Zero Suicide Alliance’s free online training, which teaches people how to spot warning signs and support someone who may be considering taking their own life.
By putting support right where people already gather, it’s hoped the initiative will prove that sometimes the best way to help is simply to ask – and make sure nobody feels like they have to face things alone.